It’s an image Brits have gotten used to this summer: our once “green and pleasant land” reduced to a crisp, arid vista. The verdant grass of England’s parks and commons scorched yellow and brown after weeks of heat and barely any rain.

The Evening Standard recently posted a carousel of photographs showing the impact of England’s exceptionally dry summer on London. I left a fairly flippant comment underneath: “But by all means, build a massive data centre in east London.”

More than 6,000 people liked it, so apparently I wasn’t the only person thinking about the curious clash between the UK’s hottest summer on record and the AI boom.

Since then, the situation has become even starker. England and Wales officially recorded their driest July since records began in 1836, while those of us in southern England experienced the driest month of any kind on record. As of 10th August, 71.3% of England was officially in drought, affecting 45 million people, while 27 million were living under water-use restrictions.

Temporary-use water bans have meant paddling pools being relegated back to the garage, cars going uncleaned and gardens unwatered. And don’t even think about a BBQ: the dehydrated earth is primed for wildfire. I’d hazard a guess that most of us are willing to forgo these favoured summer pastimes for the sake of saving water and staying safe.

But it does seem strange that, as bans are introduced across parts of the country and water companies implement drought plans and ask customers to curb demand, Britain is racing to build the infrastructure required to turn England into an AI powerhouse.

It made me wonder whether my snarky Instagram comment was actually fair. Just how thirsty is AI? And should we be thinking more seriously about what our increasingly ubiquitous use of it is costing? I decided to find out.

AI Water Use: Wait, Just How Thirsty Is AI?

I think part of the problem is that our relationship with AI feels almost entirely intangible. I can type a question into ChatGPT, ask it to summarise a document or generate an image and, seconds later, an answer appears on my screen, as if by magic. What I don't see, and you don't either, is the enormous physical infrastructure needed to make that exchange possible.

Every prompt has to be processed somewhere. Data centres house thousands of servers which generate heat as they work, requiring extensive cooling systems to keep them operating safely. Depending on the location and cooling system used, that can require water — sometimes vast quantities of it. A House of Commons Library briefing notes that there aren't even official figures for how much water UK data centres collectively consume, because they aren't required to report it.

"Water is mostly used to cool the data centres. That is, to remove the heat from the computers (mostly GPU's) used to compute the responses to queries for ChatGPT," explains Andrew A. Chien, Professor of Computer Science at the University of Chicago.

He explains that generative AI is also more resource-intensive than many of the digital activities we're used to. "The main reason to worry about AI is that each request consumes much more power (vs traditional email, Snapchat, or Facebook feed). This means it consumes correspondingly more water."

What then, about all those viral claims translating ChatGPT prompts into bottles of water? Chien says it's complicated. "This is difficult because it depends on exactly which datacenter is used, and a lot of technical detail about the exact AI models." However, he adds: "I've seen good estimates as high as 50 ml of water per prompt."

That doesn't mean every inane ChatGPT query is draining a reservoir somewhere. Water consumption varies enormously according to where a data centre is located and how it is cooled. Yet despite AI increasingly infiltrating our daily lives, most of us have precious little idea what it takes to keep it running. Chien notes that AI is now "being embedded in nearly every computing activity" and warns that, while efficiency is improving, "we're still likely to see increasing total water consumption by AI."

And we're building more of them?

At the same time, Britain is going all-in on AI. The government has made becoming an “AI maker, not an AI taker” a central ambition and has identified data centres as critical national infrastructure. LinkedIn data shows that more than 95,000 AI related jobs were created across the UK between 2023 and 2025. But the AI boom needs somewhere physical to happen, which means building more — and bigger — data centres.

Including in London. Earlier this year, plans were approved to transform part of the Old Truman Brewery site on Brick Lane — where, just a few weeks ago, I met emerging designers as part of Graduate Fashion Week — into a large data centre, despite objections from some residents and campaigners. The proposed development would demolish and redevelop buildings on the site to create around 5,200 square metres of data-centre floorspace, alongside offices.

A large data centre doesn't automatically mean enormous water consumption — how thirsty a facility is depends heavily on where it is built and how it is cooled — but the concentration of new developments in and around London is still significant.

“The concern isn't that data centres as a whole are big water users today; most aren't. It's that we're approving a wave of new capacity in exactly the wrong places without properly planning for it,” says Stephen Slessor, Chair of British Water. “Around 84% of new UK data centre developments are earmarked for areas already water stressed or projected to be by 2040, and the majority of existing and planned sites cluster around London and the South East, the most water stressed part of the country.”

And the potential scale of that demand is not to be scoffed at. According to Slessor, “Thames Water estimates data centres could drive around 30% of all new water demand in its region. A single hyperscale facility can use as much water in a day as around 10,000 people.” The timing matters too: “the hybrid cooling systems many data centres rely on draw the most water on hot, dry days, which is exactly when household demand also peaks and rivers and reservoirs are under the most strain.”

Dr Eduardo Rico Carranza, whose work on the water-system impacts of data centres was submitted to Parliament, is also concerned. Asked whether we should worry about expanding data-centre capacity in water-stressed areas such as London and the South East, his answer is clear: “Very. Our numbers indicate that the future demand cannot be met by the existing water infrastructure in place, especially during hot seasons.”

That doesn't mean AI is about to make water stop coming out of Londoners' taps. Carranza says domestic supply is likely to be prioritised. But he warns that there could be other consequences: future housing developments struggling to secure sufficient water, more frequent hosepipe bans and new infrastructure being required to meet data-centre demand — the cost of which could ultimately find its way onto consumer bills.

Why are we the ones being asked to cut back?

The thing which confuses me isn't just that AI uses water. Almost everything we do has an environmental cost. It's the seemingly odd imbalance in who is expected to think about it.

As citizens, we're constantly reminded to monitor our own consumption. Take shorter showers, turn off the tap when brushing your teeth, don’t ask for fresh towels on holiday; so reads the sign in the hotel bathroom. These aren't unreasonable requests, but they do make the speed at which AI is being rolled into our lives feel jarring.

Sini Matikainen, Economic and Fiscal Policy Director at LSE’s Centre for Economic Transition Expertise, thinks the conversation between private and public costs is overdue. “We should be having a transparent conversation as a society about the costs associated with this infrastructure, instead of letting large private companies dictate the pace of development.”

Matikainen explains that data centres are voracious consumers of electricity, too. To power even a mid-range estimate of Britain's future data-centre demand entirely with onshore wind would require around 600,000 hectares of wind farms — enough land to cover Luxembourg two-and-a-half times over. Meanwhile, in the US, 11 planned data-centre campuses are expected to produce more greenhouse-gas emissions than the entire country of Morocco.

She questions, too, what the AI boom might look like if those costs weren't so easily externalised. “If these companies actually had to bear the full costs — including paying for the cost of emissions and other environmental impacts — I think we’d see AI being rolled out much more selectively.”

Slessor argues that this isn't simply an environmental issue, but one of fairness. “This is the fairness question, and it's the single biggest risk to public support for conservation. Research at the Environment Agency has consistently found that people back hosepipe bans and are willing to do their bit, but that trust collapses if they don't see companies fixing leaks and cutting their own and other big users' non-essential use first.”

There’s an understandable excitement (and apprehension) about what AI might allow us to do, yet its environmental cost doesn’t crop up as much as we might hope. As Slessor puts it: “Asking households to conserve while a fast-growing, largely unregulated industrial sector expands unchecked in the same water-stressed catchments isn't a sustainable message. If we want the public to keep buying into water efficiency, and we need them to, industrial users including data centres need to be seen visibly pulling their weight too.”

Leslie Morris-Iveson, international water expert and Senior Research Fellow at Chatham House, argues that government therefore needs to establish “clear environmental and social guardrails” around its AI plans. As she puts it: “There are going to be tradeoffs, and I think we as a society need to start defining what uses of AI are important to us, and where AI will move us to a more prosperous future for all, based on the evidence and realistic planning and forecasting.”

I'm not suggesting we stop taking shorter showers or start watering our lawns with wild abandon. But if water is becoming scarce enough that ordinary people are being asked to change their behaviour, shouldn't the companies building the technology transforming our lives — and the governments encouraging them — be expected to account for their consumption just as visibly?

So, was my snarky comment right?

Not exactly. AI didn't cause London's drought, and not all data centres are equally thirsty. Where they're built, how they're cooled and the technology they use can massively change their water footprint.

As Leslie Morris-Iveson puts it, “What gets lost in these debates is that water is entirely local. A data centre in an area with abundant water might not be a problem, but placing high-volume cooling in an already water-stressed catchment during a summer drought puts AI use directly in competition with local homes and farmers.”

So, no, my comment didn't tell the whole story; after all, it was an Instagram comment that, as another commenter put it: “You’re posting on a page that’s owned by a company that owns the biggest data centres on the planet!” The irony was not lost on me, but I don't think that makes the 6,000 people who liked it wrong, either.

What I wanted to highlight — and what I think 6,000+ people resonated with — was the contradiction. We're being warned that resources are becoming scarcer and asked to change our individual behaviour accordingly, all the while watching governments race to accommodate the rapid expansion of AI, the technology for which, and its physical footprint, most of us barely understand.

Sini Matikainen puts the hierarchy of priorities plainly: “Access to water is a fundamental right for human beings, not data centres.”

I'm not about to stop turning the tap off while I brush my teeth. Nor am I about to stop using AI altogether; it’s already embedded into so many of the apps I use. But I think before we ask AI another question, we should be asking a few more questions about AI.

After over a decade of practising Pilates, there's one thing I've learned about the method above all else: consistency is key. When it comes to really noticing those strength gains, you have to stay on track - and it can be difficult to notice progress until you start to advance a move.

There are very few (if any) Pilates moves I haven't tried - but this isn't to say that I'm an expert at any of them. I'm humbled pretty much every time I take to the mat or reformer - and I wouldn't have it any other way.

This being said, there's one move I've been actively avoiding: boat pose. Aside from being a fairly advanced move, it also taps into all my weak spots: tight hip flexors, lower back and core. But having researched the position, it's clear that I need to buckle up: there are some serious benefits to be gained.

Rumoured to be as effective at strengthening the core as 100 sit-ups (the jury is out on this one, but hear us out!), the pose is in fact a Pilates/yoga hybrid - and it's dividing the experts. Traditionalists insist that a boat pose is, in fact, simply a Pilates teaser, while others maintain there are subtle differences between the moves.

More on the controversy below, but my interest was piqued enough to spur me to try boat pose every day for two weeks, regardless. Keep scrolling to find out what happened to my core strength, stability and hip flexors - but in the meantime, you might want to check out our guides to the benefits of Pilates leg circles, the best Pilates exercises of all time, and the only Pilates clothes worth your money, here. Plus, find out how one Health Writer got on when she quit expensive studio classes for Pilates with Izzy for a year.

I Caved and Tried the Pilates Boat Pose—and, Wow

What is Pilates boat pose?

Let's get into it: boat pose is both a yoga and a Pilates move - but its Pilates form is very similar to a teaser.

"Boat pose isn’t actually what we call this exercise in Pilates," notes Pilates instructor Aleksandra Warburton. "The V-shaped position you’ll often see referred to as boat pose in yoga is very similar to the Pilates teaser, which is one of the more challenging exercises in the classical Pilates repertoire.

"The teaser involves balancing on the sit bones with the legs lifted, and the torso angled back, creating that recognisable V shape. It looks deceptively simple, but it requires a huge amount of core strength, balance, control and body awareness to perform well."

This being said, there's a school of thought that boat pose involves a slightly different spine position: in teaser, you may have a slight 'C' curve to the back, whereas boat pose requires a straight (or neutral) spine. Either way, the move is an advanced one, requiring deep core strength and stability alongside hip flexor strength and balance.

"It’s also worth making the distinction between boat pose in yoga and teaser in Pilates," Warburton continues. "They can look remarkably similar, but they come from different movement traditions. In yoga, boat pose, or Navasana, is generally performed with a more upright, neutral spine, whereas the classical Pilates teaser incorporates a more rounded, articulated spine as you roll up and down. Most importantly, Teaser is not simply about holding a V shape; the rolling movement into and out of the position is an important part of the exercise."

What are the benefits of Pilates boat pose?

Whether you're a yoga or a Pilates advocate, there's no denying that boat pose brings substantial benefits once you're ready for the move.

1. Core strength

First up, the biggest benefit of boat pose (and its biggest challenge) has to be core strength.

"This move is a fantastic full-body strength and control exercise, but the core is definitely the star of the show with this one," notes Warburton. "It challenges the deep abdominals, including the TVA, as well as the obliques and rectus abdominis, while also requiring significant hip flexor and leg strength."

2. Balance and co-ordination

Boat pose calls for both balance and co-ordination, forcing those deep core stabilising muscles to switch on.

"It's also brilliant for balance, coordination and proprioception," Warburton continues. "This is your understanding of your body in space: because you're essentially asking your body to maintain a very challenging position while moving both the upper and lower body simultaneously, your proprioception will increase as you practice the move."

3. Body awareness

As well as proprioception, boat pose enhances overall body awareness too.

"For me, one of the biggest benefits is the body awareness the move develops," shares Warburton. "You have to understand where your pelvis, spine, legs and arms are positioned and coordinate them all together, which is what makes Teaser such a wonderful progression exercise."

4. Overall stability and control

Since boat pose involves a lift and lower with control, you're going to need to harness all the stability you can to avoid losing your form.

"This move requires balance, stability, control and full-body integration," notes Pilates instructor and founder of Sol Studio, Meg Bew. " Coordination, balance and control are essential - we want the movement to feel fluid and controlled, rather than something you have to throw yourself into."

How to do Pilates boat pose with good form

As a more advance move, a focus on form is even more important than usual. Warburton recommends the following:

• Start lying on your back with your legs extended and arms reaching up.
• Engage your powerhouse, lift the head to look towards your toes and slowly begin to roll up through the spine, lifting the torso and legs together until you arrive in your V-shaped position.
• The aim is to balance on the sit bones whilst continuously reaching the chest up, rather than collapsing into the lower back.
• Keep the chest open, shoulders back and down away from your ears and arms reaching forwards on the outside of your thighs, with the legs long and together (ideally in a small turn out, which we call your Pilates V, meaning heels together, toes slightly apart to keep the inner thighs switched on and active).
• Most importantly, move slowly. I like to pause at the top and really own the V shape before lowering back down with control, keeping the toes in line with your eye line.
• The descent is just as important as the lift. If you can control the way back down rather than simply dropping to the mat, you're getting a huge amount of strength work through the core.

Who is boat pose best for?

Despite being an advanced move, boat pose is suitable for most people.

"The move can be modified to accommodate different abilities, mobility restrictions and training goals," shares Bew. "However, the full movement is best suited to more advanced Pilates practitioners, once the necessary strength, mobility and control have been developed."

That being said, Bew warns that some people should avoid the move.

"Teaser places significant load through the lumbar spine and deep abdominal wall, so it isn’t appropriate for everyone. Caution (and in some cases avoidance) is advised for:

• Anyone with acute low back pain or an unresolved disc injury;
• Diastasis recti or postnatal clients who haven’t yet rebuilt deep core control, particularly in the early postnatal period;
• Those with reduced hamstring or hip flexor mobility that prevents the pelvis from stabilising correctly;
• Clients with cervical spine issues, given the loaded neck flexion involved
• Anyone with osteoporosis or reduced bone density, due to the spinal flexion under load;
• Pelvic floor dysfunction, where increased intra-abdominal pressure may be contraindicated."

I tried a Pilates boat pose every day for two weeks - here are my honest thoughts

Week one

No stranger to a Pilates challenge, I'm excited for the fortnight ahead as I roll out my mat in week one. And - I won't lie - I'm fairly confident that I'll be able to nail the move by the time my two weeks are up.

It seems my years of Pilates have taught me very little, though - because there's nothing simple about this move. I have to spend the first few days really focusing on engaging my core rather than my hip flexors, which seem to love really taking over - a sure-fire sign I'm not activating properly through my abs and obliques.

"The biggest thing to watch is trying to force the shape rather than earning it through strength and control," notes Warburton. "If you're gripping through the hip flexors, rounding excessively through the spine or throwing yourself into the V position using momentum, you're probably not quite ready for the full exercise."

Eek: consider myself humbled. My excuse? There are so many things to focus on at the same time with boat pose - and just when you think you've cracked one aspect, it turns out you've let all the others slide.

Another pitfall? Trying to go too high with the legs. Form trumps aesthetics, always.

"I'd also avoid sacrificing your form just to get your legs higher," advises Warburton. "A slightly lower V with a beautifully controlled spine is far more valuable than forcing yourself into a perfect-looking shape."

However, I'm no quitter, and I'm adamant that I am strong enough to master the move, with a bit of mind-muscle connection.

Week two

Undeterred, my mood is high at the start of week two - and, thankfully, the temperature has also dropped, so I'm not quite so hot and bothered: a win.

This being said, the move doesn't feel altogether easier this week. I'm still quite shaky, and those hip flexors are bothering me again. However, Warburton is reassuring, telling me that if it feels easy, I'm probably not doing it properly.

Additionally, my body might need a break from the movement pattern, too.

"You don't need to practice the move every day to benefit from it," says Warburton. "For most people, incorporating it into a Pilates session two to three times a week is more than enough, particularly because it's a relatively demanding exercise."

Can I feel the difference? Without a doubt: my core is sore, and I'm still shaking my way through the reps (which, I'll confess, I keep low!), but I've definitely noticed that I can hold the V shape a little longer without compromising my form - a small win, but one I'm taking, nonetheless.

The biggest flex, though, has to be how it makes me feel mentally to have stuck at it and not given up - full disclosure, I hate not feeling good at things - and it's absolutely this that is the best takeaway.

Honestly? I'm not desperate to continue doing boat pose every day as the fortnight draws to a close. It's a move I'll definitely return to when I need a challenge, but it's not going to be part of my daily routine any time soon.

Shop MC UK's go-to Pilates kit now:

Smouldering pillar candles, old wood, wafting holy smoke, cold veined marble, and of course, the weighty silence of devotion—ah, the olfactory images of the Catholic Church.

These sacred spaces have always held a certain allure, despite my agnostic sensibilities. Indeed, no sojourn to Europe's greatest cities, whether it be Rome, Paris or Lisbon, are complete without several daily pitstops in one of their many cathedrals, chapels, and basilicas. I come for the ornate stained glass windows, vaulted ceilings and candelabras, and stay for the serenity (and cooler air).

As a child, I couldn't stand the smell; that suffusing incense-y musk, mingled with (likely) centuries-old dust and the damp, almost fecund aroma of cold grey stone, but now, it carries a certain weight and mystery, especially when translated into home and personal scenting. It's not just me either; some of the most interesting perfume houses in the world are turning to sacred spaces for their olfactive inspiration.

Paris-based beauty brand Officine Universelle Buly continually references religious rituals through their design and products. Each of their 62 apothecary-style stores and counters is a mini marvel, replete with wood-panelled walls and antique pumps and alembics for sniffing their signature water-based scents. They also sell a number of curios, including authentic Mount Athos Incense, the actual resin used in Eastern Orthodox practices, handcrafted by the monks who reside on the Holy Mountain of northern Greece.

Their Sacre home fragrance line, in fact, pays homage to the atmosphere of historic cathedrals: dark, chilled naves illuminated by stained glass, where wisps of ceremonial smoke and heady incense drift. The scents are built around heavy notes of olibanum, also known as frankincense, rich cedarwood, green pine and sweet honey—a concoction they describe as the “scent of a coronation”. Similar notes appear in their perfumes, too. Lebanese Cedar evokes old wooden pews, while Eritrean Myrrh leans into its resinous namesake for a scent that smells subtly like the inside of an old basilica. It's surprisingly wearable.

Trudon, too, founded in Paris in 1643, famously has its Spiritus Sancti fragrance, designed to replicate the heady atmosphere of Gothic cathedrals, with notes of aldehydes, incense vapours and labdanum. Their newest scent, Carmen, updates this for the modern-day wearer, by melding labdanum, with citrus accords of bergamot, grapefruit and rhum.

Per Aamna Lone, a certified UK fragrance expert, the category is on the rise both in and beyond olfactory circles. “As the seasons are changing, the algorithm naturally begins pushing more autumnal fragrance content, and church-inspired scents, with their darker, gloomy Gothic aesthetic, fit this mood well."

When Lone thinks about the notes most evocative of the interiors of churches, aldehydes and incense are particularly prevalent. “Aldehydes are interesting because they can give a fragrance that characteristic sense of sparkle or effervescence, almost like a fizzy, luminous effect. This can translate into the cool, slightly sterile atmosphere that many people instinctively associate with churches.”

Incense, on the other hand, has a much more literal connection to the church, having been used ceremonially in both Catholic and Eastern Orthodox liturgy for centuries. “Within this category, frankincense and myrrh are perhaps the most recognisable materials. They carry not only an ecclesiastical association but also a strong Christian symbolism, particularly through their connection to the Nativity and the gifts presented by the Magi.”

Then, woody materials like palo santo and cedarwood recreate the dry, resinous, polished smell of church interiors, particularly the wooden pews and furnishings. “They add a sense of physicality to the fragrance,” she explains, “like powdery materials such as orris and violet, which are also foundational elements to this profile. Their soft, dusty quality can correlate with the sense of age, textiles, religious vestments and old interiors.”

Of course, these notes have long had a bad reputation for being heavy, dusty and difficult to wear. But increasingly, brands are finding clever ways to capture the atmosphere of cathedrals and basilicas in blends that you can actually wear daily; and, naturally, these scents work especially well when it comes to scenting the home. Ahead, my pick of the very best of the category.

Many of us sell items on eBay to earn a few extra pennies on the side, but, please correct me if I'm wrong, we haven't turned it into a multi-million-pound business spanning 16 stores across France, Spain, the United States and the UK, hundreds of employees and a brand name known to anyone who shops at the upper end of the high street. That's exactly how Morgane Sézalory started out in 2004, though, before launching the label we know today as Sézane. And on Sunday, the brand story shifted once more.

The French label we've come to love has relaunched with a slower, more intentional edit—dropping only monthly, with a stronger focus on natural materials and designs that truly stand the test of time. In a nutshell, the approach couldn't be more intertwined with everything we've always admired about French fashion. The vision: "to create original designs guided by the same pursuit of excellence," reads the press release. And a scroll of what's just landed on the site seems to hold true to that goal. Picture funnel-neck trench coats, soft leather jackets, cashmere knits and office-friendly staples that will instantly elevate any workwear wardrobe. Our edit of favourites is listed below.

"I’m now 41, and since turning 40 I have seen a real shift in myself," Sézalory tells Marie Claire. "Everything has become clearer and now I’m ready to put this new perspective into Sézane that feels more intentional, and a reflection of me growing up." A new logo, a new website and a still-secretive Paris apartment among the changes, though we already have the location: 117 rue du Bac.

"I have taken a step back to look and I’m now excited to bring my vision to life and to share it with everyone," she adds.

Although, if talk of change sends a ripple of panic through any long-devoted Sézane shoppers, you needn't start searching Vinted for old-season favourites. The roots of the brand remain very much intact: "dressing women through every chapter of life, every mood, every version of themselves," they write to their almost six-million-strong Instagram following.

While Sézalory adds, “the new chapter is for everyone, we hope that our existing loyal customers, that are so important to us, love it, and it may open the brand up to a new audience too."

“This is a new chapter with renewed intention, but it is the same Sézane instinctive approach and commitment to the elements that have defined the brand from the beginning—the quality, creativity and accessibility. The icons that remain true to Sézane will continue, alongside a fresh approach to our design," continues Sézalory.

And with 20 years of learnings under her belt, this change can only be a good thing. I, for one, am excited.

Shop The New Sézane Collection

The weather might have taken a turn for the damp—decidedly so if my soaked pair of jeans is anything to go by—but it's still technically summer until 21 September. The good news is that we've identified an item of clothing that encapsulates our warmest season but, crucially, can be worn into autumn: the camisole top.

Dua Lipa's post-honeymoon wardrobe included the cami in a big way—with styles from 16Arlington, With Jéan and Chloé. Alexa Chung's famous "outfitcam" carousels, meanwhile, also feature several camis, both lace-trimmed and primary-coloured. In fact, A-list Instagram feeds are endorsing the camisole left, right and centre. Daisy Edgar-Jones's Chloé top is particularly whimsical, helped by the fact that she's holding a bunch of lavender. But Tracee Ellis Ross, who posted less than 24 hours ago, wins for sheer fabulousness. Her camisole is liquid silver mesh (need we say more?) and, paired with lo-fi denim and sneakers, shows us exactly how to do "jeans and a nice top" in summer 2026.

Another A-lister who just wore a similar pairing, except an autumnal version, is Keri Russell, who's promoting the latest season of The Diplomat. The actor shrugged a collar-popped blazer over her camisole-and-jeans combo, a timely reminder that just because it's whisper-thin and lace-trimmed doesn't mean your cami has to retire at the start of autumn.

It's all very Saint Laurent, whose lace camisoles were paired with lace pencil skirts for Autumn/Winter 26. My advice is to bookmark that look for party season, which means you can wear your camisole now, during autumn and, finally, at Christmas.

Shop Our Favourite Camisole Tops

We’re living through something of a therapy-speak moment. Words that once frequented the therapist’s office - boundaries, triggers, attachment styles, capacity - are now part of the everyday vocabulary of friendship. With TikTok and social media offering an endless stream of opinions on how we should communicate, feel and behave, it can sometimes feel as though there’s a therapeutic diagnosis for everything.

Honestly - this is a good thing! Having the language to say this hurts me, I need something different, or this doesn’t feel healthy, is powerful. When I talk to my own mother about boundaries, she often responds with genuine awe: “Wow. I would never have thought to say that.” And she’s right. Previous generations didn’t quite have the same vocabulary for emotional needs as we do.

But what happens when the language designed to help us build healthier relationships starts to make friendship feel like something we need to constantly manage?

“Protect your peace” is the perfect example. The friend who cancels plans? Protecting her peace. The awkward conversation you’d rather avoid? Protecting your peace. The friendship that becomes too demanding? Yep, you guessed it: step back, mute the chat and call it a boundary.

Sometimes, that is exactly what we should do. But I can’t shake the feeling - are we also using the language of boundaries to sidestep what makes friendship meaningful: compromise, accountability, difficult conversations and the discomfort of being wrong? Have we simply learnt the language of psychology without understanding what it asks of us?

It’s something we’re all exploring openly. In April, the ‘But Are You Happy?’ podcast examined “weaponised boundaries”, while friendship writer Nina Badzin has argued that if everything becomes about protecting our own boundaries, friendship itself becomes rather difficult.

So, where is the line between protecting yourself and opting out of the messy business of being a friend? I wanted to find out when a boundary is genuinely necessary, when “protecting your peace” is actually avoidance - and whether, in our quest to have healthier relationships, we might occasionally be making friendships harder to maintain.

"Protecting Your Boundaries" Is One of 2026's Biggest Buzzphrases—Are We Using It Wrong?

What Does a Healthy Boundary Actually Look Like?

“A boundary is about deciding what you are and are not willing to participate in, and then acting accordingly,” explains psychologist Dr Sophie Mort. “It is about managing your own behaviour, rather than controlling somebody else’s.”

​It’s a deceptively simple distinction, and one that can get lost online. Boundaries are often presented as rules for other people: You can’t speak to me like that. You can’t expect this from me. If you upset me, you’re out.

“A healthier boundary sounds more like: If this conversation becomes disrespectful, I’m going to step away and come back to it later,” says Mort.

The difference? You can’t control what someone else does. You can decide what you do in response.

Mort cautions against confusing boundaries with the absence of discomfort. Healthy relationships involve disappointment, disagreement and difficult conversations; “a boundary isn’t designed to ensure we never feel uncomfortable, but to help us navigate those moments while respecting ourselves and the other person.”

So, what does a healthy boundary actually look like? Mort offers the example of a friend who regularly calls late at night when they’re upset. Rather than disappearing or deciding the friendship is “too much”, she suggests saying: “I love you and want to be there for you, but I can’t always do late-night calls. If I don’t answer, it’s not because I don’t care. I’ll get back to you when I can.”

Are You Protecting Your Peace - Or Avoiding the Problem?

Now, for those of us who have used “I’m protecting my peace” more than a few times - guilty- it might be time to disarm the phrase for a moment. What does it actually mean, and how do we know when it’s helping us rather than helping us avoid something?

​Clinical psychologist Sula Windgassen thinks the answer starts with being a little more honest about what’s happening underneath that urge to retreat.“Anxiety, guilt and fear often invoke automatic brain defaults that cause us to avoid,” she explains. “We have to do a little intentional work to turn towards the feelings and explore what they are and what thoughts underlie them.”

​Her advice is simple: How do I feel? What is making me feel this way? Then go one step further: what are you actually afraid might happen if you told this person what you need? From there, she suggests trying to problem-solve rather than disappearing altogether.

​Naturally, there’s science behind our instinct to dodge the difficult. Research on experiential avoidance suggests that we often try to escape uncomfortable thoughts and feelings because doing so offers immediate relief - even when avoidance can keep the underlying problem going.

​And that’s where “protecting my peace” can become complicated. Mort suggests we shouldn’t be too hasty to retire the phrase: “Sometimes, stepping away is exactly what we need. You might be too activated to have a productive conversation and need time to think.” The problem is when it becomes a way of making avoidance sound like emotional maturity. “There’s a difference between “I need a couple of days to calm down, then I want to talk” and “This is disturbing my peace, so I’m never discussing it.” One creates space to return to the relationship; the other can quietly become a way of opting out.

Has Therapy Speak Made Us Worse at Friendship?

Confession time: this feature has taken me down some rather fascinating social-media rabbit holes. But it has also made me think about just how much of our emotional vocabulary is now being shaped by our FYP.

​That’s the peculiar thing about TikTok: whatever you happen to be feeling that day, there’s probably a video waiting for you. Are you feeling overlooked? Here are five signs you’re in a one-sided friendship. Irritated? Perhaps you’re finally recognising a boundary violation. Having a bad Tuesday? Congratulations, you’ve just discovered the reason you are the way you are.

​And I’d say there’s something genuinely useful about that. But the algorithm isn’t exactly interested in nuance; it’s interested in whether you stop scrolling. Research suggests that can shape us, too: algorithmic recommendations can create “emotional feedback loops”, where our moods influence what we’re shown, which then shapes what we engage with. Another study found that highly viewed mental-health TikToks based on personal experiences attracted more engagement than those from healthcare professionals - raising revealing questions about how easily relatable anecdotes can start to feel like a psychological fact.

Which brings me back to friendship: what happens when we start applying all of this language to the people we love?

One expert I spoke to thinks this is where things can go awry: “People are grabbing the vocabulary without any of the framework that actually makes it mean something,” says Bea Chanda, licensed therapist.

“A 60-second reel can give you the word - trigger, boundary violation, unsafe - without the theory, context or nuance behind it. “And a word without the understanding behind it tends to just harden into a rule.”

The irony is that therapy language was supposed to help us understand ourselves and our relationships better. Instead, sometimes, we start talking to our friends like a textbook.

As Chanda highlights, “that doesn’t mean the language is wrong. Some relationships really are harmful, and having the words to recognise that can be life-changing. But perhaps these concepts are tools for exploration, not rules for enforcement.”

Note to self (and all our inner therapy voices): friendship needs room for people to get things wrong. To have an off week. To be complicated. Sometimes the more human response is “I’m hurt, can we talk?”, instead of saying ‘Thank you, next.”

How to Set a Boundary Without Losing the Friendship

So, where does this leave us in practice? What are we actually supposed to do when we need to set a boundary? With a therapy-approved phrase for every social scenario, it’s surprisingly easy to overthink the “right” response. Do I communicate? Take space? Set a boundary? Or just mute the group chat and hope for the best? It turns out the answer is far less complicated than we’ve made it.

Relationship therapist Aoife Drury says a genuinely nourishing friendship isn’t always one where you speak every day or see each other constantly. Instead, pay attention to how you feel within it. “A healthy friendship tends to involve a sense of safety, mutuality and acceptance,” she explains. “It can tolerate periods where one person has less capacity, and survive change without immediately interpreting it as rejection.”

“First things first, there should also be reciprocity,” says Mort, “alongside enough trust to tolerate disagreement, distance and the inevitable changes life throws at us. A good friendship allows you to be yourself, feel emotionally safe and know you don’t have to earn someone’s affection by being constantly available.”

Perhaps this is the bit we’ve forgotten amid all the talk of boundaries: a friendship doesn’t have to meet every need to be a good friendship.

We can expect our friends to support us without expecting them to be our therapist, social secretary, sounding board and 24-hour reassurance hotline. Healthy friendships involve interdependence: I can need you while still understanding that you are a separate person with your own limits.

There is, after all, a difference between having needs and expecting everyone else to organise themselves around them. A healthy boundary asks: What am I willing to participate in? Self-centredness asks: How should everyone else behave so that I never have to feel uncomfortable?

Which brings us back to boundaries. “Sometimes, a friend’s behaviour really does cross a line.” The trick, Mort says, is knowing the difference between an ordinary human limitation and a pattern that repeatedly leaves you feeling hurt, dismissed or depleted, and knowing that you’re allowed to say something about it without turning the friendship into psychological warfare.

TDLR: the healthiest boundary isn’t the one that gets you out of the relationship. Sometimes, it’s the one that gives the relationship a chance to become healthier.

MC'S Therapy-Speak Survival Kit

For as long as I can remember, I have been obsessed with getting my lashes to curl upwards. When I was in school, I kept three eyelash curlers in my bag, as backups for when mine inevitably got confiscated because I was constantly caught curling my lashes. My natural lashes are so straight, they may as well be pointing downwards. So when I heard that UKLASH was soon to launch a Lash Lift Gel, I knew I had to try it. A lash lift in a bottle? Yes please.

But it's not just about the lift. What made this so exciting for me was that, in addition to lifting, the product treats the lashes too, with nourishing ingredients that promise to support lash health and tint them over time. A product you can use as a pre-mascara primer and on its own for a natural lash lift look? It’s exactly what my lash routine needed.

How We Test

I've been using the Lash Lift Gel for the past two weeks, testing different application techniques, varying the amount used, and trying it with various mascaras to see whether it affects how the formula holds or looks. I also used the product every time I wear mascara, and I tested it alone, at the gym, and for a full day of work and events.

Over the years of testing beauty products, I've tried most of the best mascaras out there, know exactly which eyelash curler you need depending on the lash look you want, and I've even tested a lot of eyelash primers and clear mascaras in my time as a beauty writer.

I look for three main things in any lash product. First, ease of application: any mascara or mascara-adjacent product takes a few goes to get used to the wand and how it best applies, but once I've got that down, a low-fuss product is a must. Second, how it looks: I like my lashes to look as long, lifted and curled as possible, and I won't be satisfied until I've done everything I can. And third, how long it lasts: how my mascara looks at the end of the day really matters to me. I'm usually out from 7 am until 10 pm most days, and mascara starting to drop, or worse, drying up and falling out, is my nightmare.

First Impressions

From the outside, this could look like your sleekest, chicest mascara. And on the inside? Even better. The brush is flexible, with densely packed bristles, and I was surprised that it had a sweet smell. To get a feel for the texture, I placed it on the back of my hand, and it dries down almost tacky, as you'd expect from a gel product.

It's the first product of its kind, not just for UKLASH but for the market: a lash treatment and a lash lift in one. It promises to lift lashes instantly, hold that lift from morning to night, and keep them healthy while it's at it. My expectations were high.

As someone with unusually straight lashes, my main concern when doing my makeup is curling them and keeping them up. Would it live up to my expectations? Would it hold my lashes up? I was won over the very first time I tried it. It's a subtle lift and tint, but it's there, and the subtlety is exactly what works. After application, my lashes look lifted and tinted, and I even consider skipping mascara altogether. It shocked me, as a diehard mascara wearer.

How to Apply

The product itself is super easy to apply, just like mascara. I curl my lashes first anyway, and with the Lash Lift Gel, you have to, whether you're wearing it alone or under mascara. As a pre-mascara step, I found it best to let it dry a tad before applying mascara. My technique? Apply one layer to one eye, let it dry while you apply it to the other side, then come back to do mascara.

Less is definitely more with this: just do one coat. At first I applied it like my mascara, coats and coats of it, and found it weighed my lashes down. What I learned is to treat the pre-step as a coat of mascara in itself. Once I realised that, I used much less mascara on top and had the desired result (and got through less mascara, win-win).

When using it without mascara, I'd put on a few more coats, about three, dipping the brush back in the tube each time to make sure I get enough product on. When using it under mascara, I'd dip the brush once and apply a single coat across the lashes, focusing on the ends and where I want the lift.

The Verdict

I'm thrilled with the results. The lift is incredible, and the way it holds my lashes all day means I don't think I could ever go back to applying mascara alone. It took a few goes and a bit of trial and error to figure out what worked for me, but that's the same with every new mascara: I always have to get used to a new brush and formula to get my lashes the way I like them, fanned out, super long and curled. This helped me get everything I wanted with less mascara than I usually would, but the best part was that they stayed lifted and curled. Usually by the end of the day my mascara doesn't look how it did when I left the house, but with this, when I got home my lashes were still lifted, and that, for me, is everything.

What makes the formula so special? Vitamin E and glycerin keep the lashes hydrated and conditioned. If you often experience fallout from dry mascara, or by the end of the day your lashes look visibly dry, this stops that.

An unexpected positive: the Lash Lift Gel has helped me lean into the ghost lash trend. If you'd told me six months ago that the no mascara trend would make mascara become "uncool," I'd have said I saw it coming; Paris Fashion Week beauty trends predicted it, but it's not for me. And yet, with the help of the Lash Lift Gel, my lashes look lifted and have a tint to them that makes them look really healthy. I'd never thought about the health of my eyelashes before, and I caught myself observing how healthy they looked. That little bit of tint makes them look naturally darker, longer and lifted, something I've never felt with an eyelash primer before. Would I re-purchase? Absolutely, yes.

More to Try

Ah, denim, the dutiful fabric that never fails. It stretches across every season, every personal style preference and, if the latest trends are anything to go by, every occasion. Yet while it has a stronghold on many of our everyday wardrobes, small changes in cut, colour and kind of product can make it feel either far more of the moment or decidedly dated. And so I bring you the Autumn/Winter 26 denim trends to take note of now, as they journey from the runway right down into your favourite everyday stores.

The key message to take away? Fun is at the forefront. Think boldly coloured jeans, peplum-shaped denim jackets and a scattering of sequins. Though more formal-fitting shapes are seeping through too: a knife-edge straight leg and dress designs that could venture into the office. Stretching the ways in which to wear denim—and the occasions to don it—to far more than just a T-shirt and trainers.

But it's worth noting these are all denim looks we've seen before, with designers reaching back into their not-too-distant archives to revive trends of years, even decades, gone by. Not reinventing the wheel, simply repackaging it. Scroll on to see how.

5 Autumn/Winter 2026 Denim Trends to Consider Now

Alternative Colours

There may be no shortage of the sea of blue denim before us, but some brighter, more unsual shades are stepping into the limelight too: purple, yellow and red among them, all working to liven up our everyday wardrobes. Though this is far from a new trend, of course. Cast your mind back to around 2012 and you probably had your own colour wheel of different jean shades to choose from. The bolder, the better.

Red, in particular, has already taken off, spotted on some of the most fashionable women on the internet. And it's easy to see the appeal: all the comfort of a classic jean, with the added benefit of being instantly eye-catching. With no shortage of shades to pick from, which one you choose comes down purely to personal preference.

Shop Colourful Denim

Denim, Meet Ruffles

Rather than rigid, linear pattern cutting, Autumn/Winter '26 puts femininity in full focus for denim. From flippy peplums to ruffled skirts, the humble fabric is being used in ways that are full, voluptuous and soft.

This is a trend that surprisingly endures. Liberowe's peplum denim jacket and Marques'Almeida's signature ruffled denim are not new and yet still entirely current.

Shop Ruffled Denim

Super Straight and Super Dark

"Can you wear jeans to the office?" is the question behind every somewhat strict workwear dress code—and this season, the answer is a resounding yes. So long as you opt for the smartest of cuts: the super-straight. Bonus points if you can iron a crisp fold down the front.

While barrel and wide-leg cuts may have taken centre stage for the past few seasons, Khaite, Calvin Klein and Balenciaga are putting this more formal slim-leg faithful back in the spotlight. Suddenly, every outfit feels that bit more sophisticated, especially in a dark wash.

Shop Super Straight Jeans

Dramatic Denim Dresses

If the term denim dress conjures up images of short smocks and dungaree-like designs, the Autumn/Winter runways are here to challenge those ultra-casual characteristics, stretching the confines of just how far denim can go. Think office-friendly fits, longer lengths and materials that aren't actually denim, just made to look like it.

Zimmermann's draped design acts as the blueprint for the elevated denim dress, and a number of brands have already adopted each of its elements: midi lengths, voluminous skirts and a dark wash that feels effortlessly elegant.

Shop Denim Midi Dresses

Sequins and Studs

Hands up, who has embellished jeans already sitting at the back of the wardrobe? Possibly piled on top of a silver pair that were equally popular around the same time. I certainly do. So you'll be pleased to know they're already poised for a quick comeback, all thanks to Jonathan Anderson and Stella McCartney.

Sequins, diamantes, studs, feathers—essentially anything goes, so long as it livens up a classic blue cut. And if you missed the trend the first time around, there are already a number of embellished styles to buy into now, with many more predictably on the way.

Shop Embellished Jeans

As someone who's been bleaching my hair for over 15 years, I know a thing or two about damage and dryness—particularly after a season spent in the sun and sea when my blonde becomes almost instantly parched. But with the right hair repair masks in my arsenal, my blonde stays looking healthy no matter what it's been exposed to.

After a particularly disastrous home-bleaching incident in my early twenties, intensive hair repair masks were the only thing to pull my ends back from the brink. Since then, I've used one at least once a week to treat hair damage, and I always pack one in my suitcase when travelling to combat the dryness that's left behind from salt, chlorine, and UV rays. Although the best conditioners can do some heavy lifting, nothing quite compares to the results of a mask after a dry summer.

From moisturising hair masks to leave-in bond repair treatments, these are the hair repair masks I swear by for strengthening, increasing shine, taming frizz, and keeping my hair healthy following the warmer months when it's most prone to damage.

How We Test

The Marie Claire UK team takes product testing seriously, with a commitment to delivering accurate, honest and genuinely helpful reviews for our readers. For this piece, I've rounded up hair masks that I have used on my hair for several months—and years in some cases. I assessed things like texture, packaging, ease of use, detangling abilities, and the all-important results after drying my hair. Only the ones that made a noticeable difference in terms of strength, softness, and shine made it into this piece.

The Best Hair Repair Masks

• Best overall: K18, £70 at Space NK
• Best for rebuilding: L'Oréal, £29.77 at Lookfantastic
• Best for toning: Virtue, £69 at Space NK
• Best for moisture: Living Proof, £36 at Lookfantastic
• Best multi-use: Hershesons, £23.99 at Amazon
• Best for volumising: Sam McKnight, £48 at Space NK
• Best for severe damage: Olaplex, £39 at Lookfantastic

Best Overall Hair Repair Mask: K18 Leave-in Molecular Repair Hair Mask

You've almost certainly heard about the K18 Leave-in Molecular Repair Hair Mask, and I can confirm it's worth all the hype it's got over the years. Yes, it's a pricey investment, but the results speak for themselves—and the ease of use alone sold me. This leave-in treatment repairs damage from chemicals, bleach, colour, and heat in just four minutes, with no need to wash it out, so you don't have a tedious wait in the shower. Skip conditioner in your hair wash routine, apply a few pumps to towel-dried hair, wait at least four minutes, then continue styling as usual. It's made a noticeable difference to the softness, bounce, strength, and colour of my hair, and it's always the product I pack on holiday for maximum results.

Best for Rebuilding: L'Oréal Professionnel Absolut Repair Molecular Strengthening Mask

If chlorine and UV rays have damaged your hair this season, you need to focus on strengthening your strands. This L'Oréal Professionnel mask is suitable for all types of damaged hair including colour-treated, lightened, and natural, and it works to rebuild the molecular structure of your hair without adding weight. It has a smooth, creamy texture that applies like conditioner and only takes a couple of minutes to work post-shampooing. Improving strength, elasticity, movement, and smoothness, it's the ultimate antidote for summer-worn hair that needs a total revamp.

Best for Moisture: Living Proof Moisture Rescue Mask

My hair is easily the knottiest it's ever been due to chlorine, and even getting a brush through it is a workout. I have been using the Living Proof Moisture Rescue Mask on repeat over the last month to get some moisture back into my bleached ends, and it's worked a treat. You only have to leave this in for five minutes in the shower, and I use that time to brush through my hair and get it thoroughly detangled. When it comes time to dry and style, my hair feels totally revitalised and glossy thanks to this mask. The Smart Barrier HairTech also makes flyaways more manageable, so it provides lasting results.

Best for toning

All blondes know the importance of a good toner, but traditional purple shampoos can sometimes be too drying for regular use—particularly when your hair has already gone through the wringer. Virtue's Colourkick mask is designed for all colour-treated hair, and it works to tone and intensely hydrate in one. Formulated with Alpha Keratin 60ku, it targets colour, heat, and sun damage to boost shine and softness. When my hair is on the brassier side or lacking oomph after sun exposure, this in-shower three minute mask is the first one I turn to for a brightening and nourishing effect.

Best for volumising

This is a true do-it-all mask that strengthens the hair, repairs split ends, and boosts volume and thickness in one. So as well as bringing dry summer hair back to health, it offers lift and makes the hair look denser too—a perfect recipe for a salon-fresh look from home. Leave on for five minutes after shampooing and style as usual out of the shower, with added softness, shine, and volume. I love how glossy and manageable this formula leaves my hair, as well as the boost it provides for heat styling to give my blow dry a more polished finish.

Best for severe damage

If you've ever dealt with damaged hair, you probably know how transformative Olaplex products can be. I swear by them for keeping my bleached hair healthy, and the leave-in products are some of my most used during summer when I want to prevent any breakage. This particular mask is applied for a few minutes after shampooing to smooth rough texture, reduce flyaways, and hydrate and soften dry and coarse hair types. It's one of the best for preventing breakage and reducing frizz, penetrating each hair strand to restore its health and leave your ends glossy and full.

Best multi-use

I'm definitely guilty of being lazy with my haircare routine during summer, and this product means I can afford to be. The Almost Everything Cream can be used for styling, conditioning, boosting shine, defining curls, and even as a leave-in mask to repair the hair. It can be used on wet or dry hair, but I like to apply it out of the shower, focusing on mid-lengths and ends, before drying to get the nourishing effects. It deeply nourishes, repairs split ends over time, deeply moisturises, controls frizz, and adds shine in one—and it also works wonders to define my natural waves. If you're traveling, this is one product you can pack for every single hair need.

I write about health and wellness for a living, and even I find the sheer amount of advice we're exposed to overwhelming. Take this supplement. Hit this many steps. Eat this much protein. Track your sleep, optimise your morning routine, monitor your recovery – and whatever you do, don't forget about your cortisol. And all of a sudden, living our healthiest lives feels like a full-time job.

I realised I wasn't the only one feeling like this after Steven Bartlett told us that two glasses of wine had ruined the better part of a week for him last month (for MC UK's scoop on that controversy, check out our full take here). I, for one, have been fascinated by the response, and I'll be real: I've been watching the growing backlash against tracking, biohacking and constant self-improvement with a sense of relief.

Women like Liz Moody have been at the forefront of the conversation, vocalising her views on the downsides of optimisation culture. Then there's nutritionist Sarah Ann Macklin, who's explored what happens when our pursuit of health starts creating anxiety rather than alleviating it (relatable, much?). There's even an emerging "unquantified self" movement, which essentially encourages us to stop obsessing over the numbers and start paying attention to how we actually feel.

As someone who recently stopped wearing her Apple Watch because the sleep data became one more thing to worry about, I can relate. And so I started thinking: what would happen if I stopped trying so hard to be "well"? To be clear, I wasn't about to spend a month surviving on wine and takeaway in the name of rebelling against wellness culture. Instead, I wanted to strip things back – move when and how I fancied, eat intuitively, rest when I needed to, and generally embrace a good old-fashioned 80/20 approach to life.

So, for one month, that's exactly what I did. No tracking, no obsessing over whether I'd moved "enough", and no trying to squeeze every last health benefit out of my day. Could taking my foot off the wellness accelerator actually make me feel better? Keep reading to find out.

I opted out of wellness optimisation for a month–why it's one of the best things I've ever done

What is wellness optimisation?

First, let's talk about the difference between wellness and wellness optimisation. Jamie Janko is a breathwork expert, wellness educator and founder of Rewild Breathwork, and she makes an important distinction between the two.

"Wellness is about caring for ourselves, but optimisation suggests there is always something that could be improved. And this is where it can get tricky," she said to MC UK.

When we tag the word optimisation onto the end of wellness, the focus shifts towards improving, measuring and fine-tuning our healthy habits – think sleep scores, step counts, supplements, recovery metrics and carefully honed routines.

As stress, burnout and wellness coach Bianca Topham explains: "When we optimise something, we try to improve it to the best of our ability. Wellness optimisation therefore needs ongoing work, change, enhancing, adjusting and monitoring."

Are there any benefits to wellness optimisation?

Sounds pretty intense, right? Well, before we get into the drawbacks of wellness optimisation, it's worth noting that there could be some benefits here – with the right approach.

After all, paying attention to our wellbeing isn't a bad thing. "When we look after areas such as our sleep, movement, nutrition, stress and emotional wellbeing, it can have a positive knock-on effect on how we feel and function in other areas of our lives," Topham summarises.

There is a case for tracking here, too. Dr Divpreet Sacha of Her Holistic Health points out that "monitoring things like our steps, food or sleep makes you notice things about your own behaviour you'd otherwise miss." One 2018 study of 1,768 people found that self-monitoring can encourage us to reflect on our behaviour and become more aware of our health habits, for example.

And you don't necessarily need months of data to experience some benefit. A 2019 randomised trial found that wearing a fitness tracker for just two weeks had a "statistically small but significant" positive effect on participants' perceived physical health and sense of accomplishment.

So, wellness optimisation isn't inherently the villain of this story. The sweet spot seems to be using these tools to support how you feel, rather than allowing the numbers to dictate whether you've had a "good" or "bad" day.

What about the drawbacks?

And here's where things get complicated. There’s a pretty big difference between noticing that you feel better after eight hours of sleep and feeling like you've somehow failed because your watch awarded you a sleep score of 72. I know this one first-hand – it's precisely why I stopped wearing my Apple Watch to bed.

"The problem begins when awareness turns into surveillance, comparison and perfectionism – and a feeling there’s always something to fix," Janko tells me. Constantly tracking ourselves can, she says, create a kind of hypervigilance around our health, where suddenly nothing feels quite good enough.

Interestingly, the same 2018 study I mentioned above found downsides alongside the benefits of self-monitoring. Participants described tracking as tedious, demotivating and, in some cases, something that could encourage obsessive behaviour – a useful reminder that more information doesn't necessarily equal better wellbeing.

Sleep tracking offers a particularly interesting example. "There’s even a term that has emerged around it: orthosomnia," says Janko. Researchers first used the term in a 2017 paper after seeing patients become so preoccupied with perfecting the sleep data on their trackers that it appeared to increase sleep-related anxiety, making getting a good night's rest harder. Sounds a bit counterproductive, doesn't it?

And it's not just about the numbers. As Topham points out, trying to optimise everything can turn looking after ourselves into a heavy mental load. "Did I get quality sleep? Move enough? Eat correctly? Meditate? Get enough daylight? Have caffeine at the right time?" she says. "Too much of this can feel like looking after ourselves is a chore on yet another to-do list."

It also raises an interesting question about what healthy living actually looks like. The much-discussed Blue Zones framework, for example – those are the areas of the world with the highest concentration of centenarians, F.Y.I. – focuses on decidedly low-tech habits associated with healthy ageing. Think: natural everyday movement, strong social connections, a sense of purpose, nutritious food and ways of managing stress. While the Blue Zones concept itself has attracted some debate, those underlying lifestyle principles overlap heavily with established lifestyle-medicine recommendations.

In other words, a healthy life doesn't necessarily need to be a meticulously measured one.

Opting out of wellness optimisation for one month–my review

Weeks one and two

In a bid to embrace intuitive living, the first thing I did when starting my month-long experiment was to ditch the trackers. No step count, no sleep data, no checking whether I'd moved "enough" by the end of the day. I still made a point of getting outside for fresh air and moving regularly, but I tried to let wanting a walk be enough of a reason to take one. It probably doesn't come as a surprise to hear that this felt great.

Food got the same treatment. I'm aware that a savoury, protein-heavy breakfast might tick more nutrition boxes, but do you know what I actually want first thing in the morning? Granola, Greek yoghurt and berries. So that's what I started having. I also stopped expecting myself to conjure up fabulously nutritious dinners seven nights a week. Some evenings, a simple meal requiring minimal thought was exactly what I needed – and reducing even a little bit of daily decision-making felt freeing.

That didn't mean throwing everything I know about nutrition out of the window. I still ate plenty of whole foods and tried not to make ultra-processed foods the backbone of my diet, but if they cropped up? I didn't berate myself. The same applied to sleep. I went to bed when I felt tired and, perhaps more importantly, stopped conducting a post-mortem the following morning on exactly how many hours I'd managed. Slowly, the question of "have I done enough to be healthy today?" started being replaced by a much simpler one: how do I feel?

Weeks three and four

By the second half of the month, I was getting better at listening to what my mind and body actually wanted. Movement was one of the clearest examples. I'm usually very conscious of fitting strength training into my week – we've all heard by now how important maintaining muscle is – but on week three I realised I'd played tennis, gone swimming and been for a run without doing a single strength session.

Usually, this could have sent me on a spiral of doubt, but this time, I chose to listen to how I felt, which was good. I'd chosen three forms of exercise that I genuinely fancied doing, and I finished the week feeling energised rather than guilty about the workout I'd supposedly missed. I was surprised that giving myself permission to move intuitively meant I ended up doing more cardio than usual – who knows, maybe simplifying my choices had given me more energy than usual?

There were social wins, too. I drank a couple of glasses of wine in the garden with friends over dinner and can happily report that, contrary to Steven Bartlett's experience, my life was not derailed for the following three days. I enjoyed myself, went to bed, woke up and carried on with my life (revolutionary stuff).

By week four, I realised opting out of wellness optimisation hadn't made me abandon my health. If anything, I felt more connected to it. I was still moving, eating nourishing food, sleeping and getting outside – I just wasn't constantly evaluating how well I was doing these things. And that distinction, for me, turned out to be pretty profound.

If you've been finding healthy living just a little too much recently, I highly recommend you try a more intuitive approach. Trust yourself, and do what makes you feel good – it's worked wonders for me.

Shop my current favourite wellness essentials here:

I've failed, and I'm sorry. A large part of any fashion editor's job is to sniff out the newest, most exciting brands before they hit the mainstream—and this one has slipped right past me, while the most discerning fashion fans, Monikh Dale included, have quietly been investing in its sculptural skirts, office-appropriate dresses and elevated basics. So much so that the brand features as one to watch on this quarter's Lyst Index, with searches up 232% year-on-year. Its name? Voranida.

Founded in 2019 by designer Voranida Rujekitnara, the brand names timeless style, impeccable detail and precise craftsmanship as its three key focus points, with reinventions of everyday wardrobe favourites the core aim. A double-collar shirt, a layered silk vest and the exposed-pocket Tracey trouser are just a handful of examples of how it's absolutely hitting the mark. Though, according to Lyst, Voranida has an extra edge.

"Voranida also capitalised on this seasonality-led demand," writes the 2026 second quarter Lyst index. "Across both contemporary and luxury fashion, the brands making the biggest gains were those that embraced the realities of the season, meeting consumers where they were rather than asking them to buy into collections not yet fit for purpose."

Step into any high street store and you're sure to be met with boots, knits and jackets—pieces many of us aren't quite ready to invest in, especially when this summer is one of the hottest on record. This real-life seasonality simply signals, yet again, that Voranida seems to know exactly what we want from our clothes: what they look like, how they're crafted, and when, exactly, we want to wear them. Practicality and polish, standing hand in hand.

The designs aren't synonymous with any one location or style, and that seems to stem from Rujekitnara's background. The designer was born in Bangkok, studied womenswear fashion design at the London College of Fashion and worked with the likes of Fendi and Rejina Pyo before setting out on her own. Her pieces, as a result, cater to no particular location, age or setting—just those searching for something a little different, yet still actually wearable.

And though it's already stocked at luxury stores such as Harrods, I have a feeling we're about to see a great deal more of this brand. Though I promise I'll be a little quicker on the mark next time.

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The Beauty Digest is my Beauty Director’s edit of what’s actually worth your attention. Each week, I’ll be sharing the new launches I’m using and loving, the viral treatments I’m putting to the test (and what I really think of the results), plus my take on the industry conversations everyone’s talking about.

Three New Launches on My Radar

The Treatment Trial: Head Spas

Scalp care is really having its moment in the beauty spotlight, and it would be remiss of me not to trial one of the latest treatments sweeping the salon scene: the head spa. Originating in Japan, head spas combine deep-cleansing, stimulating and relaxing techniques designed to leave the scalp thoroughly cleansed and the mind suitably refreshed.

This particular treatment was at Cloud Twelve, a luxury wellness and lifestyle club in Notting Hill, and involved a 21-step ritual that began with a dermascope and follicular analysis (essentially, looking at my scalp under a microscope to pinpoint any potential issues). From there, the treatment covered everything from a detoxifying clay mask and growth-stimulating scalp massage to a neck and décolletage massage, waterfall hair rinse, LED scalp therapy and more.

While it wouldn't be my first choice of treatment (my back will always take precedence when it comes to spa massages), it was a heavenly experience that left my scalp feeling supremely clean, my hair noticeably bouncier and shinier, and my mind remarkably clear.

Beauty Buzz: No, Gel Nails Aren’t Being Banned

Everyone remain calm. Yes, the TPO ban has arrived in the UK—the ingredient was already banned in cosmetics across the EU—but that doesn't mean gel manicures are finished. Far from it. TPO is just one of many photoinitiators used to help certain gel polishes cure under UV or LED light, and brands have been busy reformulating without it.

So, what can you expect? In reality, probably very little difference at your next manicure. From 15th August, salons and retailers in Great Britain can no longer sell or supply cosmetic products containing TPO, so affected formulas should already have been replaced with TPO-free alternatives.

And will your manicure still be as good? In short, yes. Well, probably. TPO is only one of the ingredients that can be used to cure gel polish, and brands have reformulated with alternative photoinitiators designed to deliver the same glossy finish and long-lasting wear. Whether any of those alternatives will face similar scrutiny further down the line remains to be seen. But if the TPO ban has shown us anything, it's that the industry is more than capable of adapting.

I hated PE when I was in school; I just didn’t feel confident taking part. I didn't discover my own love for fitness until much later in life, when I started weight training while studying for my law degree.

I always wish I'd discovered movement sooner. The mental clarity, self-belief, and general understanding of my body’s importance would have been really helpful in navigating my teenage years.

That's why I created Project Power, a school initiative aiming to counter how many teenage girls drop out of sport. Going into schools, providing supportive workout clothing and teaching the fundamentals of strength training, the goal was simple: to boost these girls' confidence and show them just how mood-boosting movement can feel.

The idea came about after I'd read some research on women's confidence. I noticed that so many of the challenges women experience around body image and self-belief actually begin in girlhood.

At the same time, I came across statistics showing that so many teenage girls are disengaging from physical activity because of something as simple as feeling uncomfortable in their PE kit. There were so many barriers to taking part.

That really stayed with me. I wanted to create something that could help change those early experiences and give girls the confidence to move their bodies without fear or self-consciousness. Fitness had such a positive impact on my own life, and I wanted to help more young girls discover that same feeling much earlier than I did.

Krissy Cela on Inspiring the Next Generation of Girls to Get Active

I think a lot of women can relate to the body image struggles you have during your teenage years. Our bodies are constantly changing, and beyond that, we’re also more generally trying to build our confidence and learn who we are.

Providing the girls with a kit isn’t just to remove a practical barrier to participating, but also a way they can feel genuinely confident.

Strength training as a superpower

Strength training is important for women at every age, but starting in our teenage years really sets us up for success. I chose to teach the girls the basic strength training fundamentals because building those foundations during our teenage years will help increase muscle mass, improve bone density, boost confidence and create a lifetime of healthy habits, which will support us for years to come.

Common misconceptions

The most common misconception I've encountered is the idea that young girls believe they need to look like other women they see online. Having that perception negatively impacts their body image and overall confidence, which in turn deters them from staying active as they feel like they constantly need to chase unrealistic aesthetic goals.

Doing the work that matters

One of the most rewarding things to witness is the transformation that happens during a session. Students often walk into the sports hall feeling shy, uncertain, or unsure of their abilities. But once the music starts and they begin moving, you can see something change.

They start to challenge themselves, realise they are capable of more than they thought, and experience the enjoyment and confidence that movement can bring. That shift is exactly why Project Power matters. Teenage girls are at a stage where confidence can be fragile, so seeing how the tools we’re giving them are supporting them in feeling stronger, more capable, and more confident in themselves really drives home why this work is so important.

Coming into their lives at this point and hopefully inspiring them to choose themselves will instil confidence that they can take through life.

Challenging the system

Beyond the workshops themselves, I think more wellness education outside of the regular PE curriculum is needed. This could include supporting girls with their body image, deepening their understanding of all the ways their bodies can change and how key fitness is a pillar in life.

Fitness isn’t just for our physical wellbeing and aesthetics, but choosing to continuously take care of yourself is incredibly mentally empowering.

Trying something new

If a girl reading this has already written herself off as "not sporty," I'd recommend she try different types of movement. I push the importance of strength training, but any movement is better than nothing.

Pilates and run clubs are really popular right now, but if those more trendy forms of movement aren’t for you, it doesn’t mean you should give up. For example, as much as I love training in the gym and doing hot mat classes, I also absolutely love to walk and hike. It’s great for my health and good cardio, but it also really clears my busy mind. I recommend finding the movement you love, as it’s always easier to stay consistent that way.

Tailoring the message

I've made a conscious effort to use my platform to remind people that following someone's "what I eat in a day" videos or ab workouts won't make you look like that person. We all have different bodies, genetics, and lifestyles, and it's so important to keep that perspective.

I wouldn't say the message itself is different for teenage girls, but it does feel even more important. Through Project Power and conversations with my community, I've seen firsthand how much pressure young girls are under and comparing themselves to what they see online. That's why I want to encourage them to focus on how movement makes them feel, rather than how it makes them look. Building confidence, strength, and a positive relationship with exercise from a young age is so much more valuable than chasing an unrealistic ideal.

Continuing the growth

In the next five years, I'd love to see Project Power expand its reach and deepen its impact. While we're incredibly proud that we've already visited over 50 schools, delivered workshops to nearly 5000 students, and gifted over 18,000 Oner kits to teenage girls across the UK, our ambition is to inspire even more young women in the years ahead and take Project Power around the world.

I'd also love to find meaningful ways to stay connected with the girls beyond the workshop itself, supporting them at different stages of their journey. Community has always been at the heart of Oner, and I want Project Power to embody that same sense of belonging and ongoing support.

It would be great to bring back girls who have been through the programme to help lead future sessions. Hearing directly from someone whose confidence, relationship with movement, or outlook has been shaped by Project Power would be incredibly powerful. It creates a full-circle moment, showing the next generation what's possible and, hopefully, also helps inspire them to continue their own journey long after the session ends.

Shop Krissy's favourites here:

Yes, you can simply shrug a knit over your favourite summer outfits to stave off the chill while still wearing flip flops, but it's not the only way to shift your wardrobe from high summer to autumn-appropriate. So, as shorts slowly give way to trousers, vest tops to long-sleeve tees and (sorry) sandals to fully covered shoes, the search is on for some softer middle ground—so we're A) not shivering and B) not overhauling our entire wardrobe. And by way of inspiration, some of the best-dressed women on the internet are already showcasing some especially strong suggestions.

Take Marilyn's swapping of the summer-favourite denim mini skirt for one far longer and fuller, cosied up even further with a long-sleeve tee. Or Debora's easy summer look of black linen trousers, a grey tee and flip-flops, made autumn-ready with the simple addition of a trench coat—a piece perfectly suited to this in-between season. Or Bettina Looney's clever switch-up in fabrics, wearing a classic, seemingly summer-ready vest top in a far warmer leather. Too sweaty in summer, yes, but expertly suited to autumn, allowing us to bare our arms for just a little longer.

All prove that a few easy touches are all it takes to eek our summer wardrobes out into the next season. Though do, by all means, get experimental with layers, all in the name of prolonging the love affair with sandals. Because unless you're off on holiday, we'll be back in closed-toe shoes for what feels like a lifetime.

5 Transitional Autumn Outfit Ideas to Bookmark

Denim Midi Skirt + Striped Tee

If you, like me, have a habit of wearing only jeans, allow me to gently nudge the denim midi skirt into your line of sight. Just as easy to style yet noticeably more striking, it's a piece that rarely gets the attention it's rightly owed. A long-sleeve tee and a peep-toe heel will have it effortlessly treading that high-low balance, making it an easy formula for many an occasion.

Trench Coat + Simple Layers

Answer me honestly, how many trench coats are currently in your wardrobe? I have three. So let’s use this as a reminder that this tricky transeasonal period are what the lightweight coats are actually built for. Layer yours over everything from mini dresses to trouser suits and your favourite summer look—linen trousers, a classic tee and flip flops, for one.

Statement Top + Jeans

The Instagram algorithm is, I fear, a little too advanced, as I've spotted this fringed leather vest top no fewer than five times. And on every occasion, I've headed straight to the brand website and added it to my basket. Only to forget, then repeat the cycle the next time it crops up on a morning scroll. With jeans and a peep-toe mule, it far outdoes the everyday jeans-and-a-nice-top formula, evoking high summer while offering that bit of extra warmth.

Statement Trouser

If the Holli leather vest tops are taking over our algorithms, so too are La Veste’s striped shorts and trousers, the latter ticking more of our transeasonal dressing boxes. Add a denim shirt, belt, printed neck scarf and preppy pumps and suddenly they feel office appropriate. Just because we’re stepping out of summer, doesn’t mean colour gets left behind, after all.

Black Separates + Accents

Black trousers, like jeans, are a basic outfit building block that belong in every wardrobe. To take them from the warm weather and into autumn, opt for a closed-toe shoe, lightweight jacket and liven up the look with a scarf tied around the waist.

I've watched hundreds of people write a wish list, feel hopeful for a week, and then quietly give up when nothing changes.

They conclude manifestation "doesn't work for them." What's actually happening is that they were never taught the mechanics of it - because manifestation isn't a wish; it's closer to an equation, and most people are only doing half the maths.

If you've tried this before and felt nothing shift, it's probably one of these three things.

Manifesting Never Worked For You? I'm a Coach—These 3 Reasons May Be Why

Mistake number one: You're thinking it, not feeling it

Writing a list of what you want and reading it back to yourself occasionally isn't manifestation - it's wishful thinking. The step almost everyone skips is the felt sense of it.

Here's why that matters: your brain can't fully distinguish between something real and something vividly imagined. When you visualise in detail - not just the image, but how it feels in your body - you're building the same neural pathways you'd build if it were actually happening. That's not a metaphor; it's neuroscience. So if you visualise having a partner, the useful question isn't "what does that look like," it's "how does my body feel when I'm loved, understood, held?" Specificity in feeling is what makes the visualisation do anything at all.

There's a reason "feel it in your heart" isn't just a figure of speech, either. The heart has its own network of neurons - researchers call it the heart-brain - and it processes and responds to emotion independently of your head. When you drop into the feeling of what you want rather than just the thought of it, you're signalling from a place with real neurological weight, not just running a thought on a loop. What you're saying isn't what creates change. How you feel while you're saying it is.

Mistake number two: You're doing it once, not daily

A visualisation you do once a week, or once a month, isn't a strong enough signal to compete with years of limiting beliefs. You already have deeply wired beliefs about what's possible for you - beliefs that took a lifetime to build.

Undoing them with an occasional five minutes of visualising isn't going to out-signal that. This has to be a daily practice, even if it's just a few focused minutes, for the new pathway to actually take hold over the old one.

Mistake number three: You're being either too vague, or too rigid

This is the one that trips people up in opposite directions.

Too vague, and it's unusable - "I want to be married next year" is an outcome with no path attached, especially if you're not currently dating anyone. Your brain doesn't know what to visualise, so it defaults back to abstraction, and nothing lands. The fix is to get specific and put a timeline on it: not just "I want love," but the exact feeling of being with someone who makes you feel safe and understood, by a date you choose.

But then, once it's specific, you have to hold it loosely - because too rigid, you block the very thing you're trying to call in.

I can tell you this from my own life. My manifestation was to be living with my partner by the end of August, in a house with a garden and an open kitchen. I was specific about the details and the timeline on purpose - and then, almost immediately, my landlord gave me notice to move out. Everyone told us we'd never find a garden flat in central London on our timeline. We did - in Swiss Cottage. It came together slightly later than my original date, and in a different area than I'd first pictured, because I'd been quietly attached to one specific location out of habit, not necessity. The moment I let go of *how* it needed to happen, it worked out better than I'd planned: we're closer to my work, my clients, my opportunities. There's no such thing as impossible - only the ceiling of what you can currently imagine, and there's always more space beyond it than you think.

Be specific enough that your nervous system has something real to work with. Then let go of the exact shape it has to take.

The part almost no one talks about: the ego doesn’t get the credit

Here’s the piece that changed how I actually practise this. Your mind - your visualising, imagining, planning mind - is a genuinely useful tool. It’s how you get specific, how you feel something before it’s real, how you build the neural pathway in the first place. But it’s still just a tool, and every tool has a limit. Your mind can only construct a “dream life” out of material it already knows: what you’ve seen, experienced, been told is possible. That’s the ceiling.

What I’ve come to understand is that the ceiling of your ego’s best-case scenario is only the floor of your higher mind. The most elaborate, specific, ambitious version of what you can consciously picture isn’t the top of what’s available to you, it’s the entry point to it. The house we found, the timing, the way it actually worked out, none of it was something I could have engineered by visualising harder. I let go of how, stopped trying to manage every detail, and something more spacious than my own imagination met me there.

That’s the difference between manifesting from the ego and surrendering to something greater than it. The visualising still matters, it gets you to the threshold. But past that point, it’s not about pushing harder. It’s about trusting there’s more available than your own mind was ever going to be able to construct.

If you want support doing this properly:

This isn’t a one-and-done practice, and it’s genuinely harder to sustain alone. Inside The Heart Field Collective, we work with exactly this: weekly prompts to work with your higher self, a guided 15-minute manifestation meditation together every Friday, monthly mentoring, and full access to my library of sessions. People inside the community have seen real shifts within months, not years. It’s £28 a month, and you can join through the app.

You don’t need to wait long to start seeing change. You need the right practice, done consistently.

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As a beauty journalist, I see trends come and go. But rarely have I seen one prevail quite as unwaveringly as the bob. At one point, every new day seemed to bring a new iteration: the French bob, the boyfriend bob, the old-money bob, the Scandi bob—you get the idea. Whatever the prefix, the bob has had a near-total chokehold on hair trends for the best part of a decade.

“I think the bob became so popular because it’s one of those haircuts that gives you a really noticeable change without being completely terrifying,” says Luke Hersheson, celebrity hairstylist and CEO of Hershesons. “You can cut quite a lot of hair off and instantly feel different, but it’s still incredibly wearable.”

The pandemic only accelerated its appeal. “Everyone came out of that period wanting change,” says Hersheson. “People had spent months looking at themselves on Zoom, growing their hair out, not going to salons. There was this real appetite to do something. The bob became almost shorthand for that reset.”

No one understands that desire for control and reinvention better than me. I've had two bobs in my life, each following a major life event—a break-up, a new job and having a baby. Each time, it's been a spur-of-the-moment decision: an impulsive exercise in autonomy and, ultimately, an attempt to find my identity again.

My most recent bob came shortly after having my son. But unlike my previous bobs, I've spent the subsequent two years growing it out, resisting the temptation to cut it all off again and becoming increasingly invested in getting my hair longer and healthier. And recently, I've noticed I'm not the only one.

After years of watching the bob reign supreme, something finally seems to be shifting. Lengths are creeping ever downwards and, everywhere I look, from the red carpet to people-watching on the tube, more people have long hair. Hersheson has noticed it in the salon, too. “I’m definitely seeing more women wanting to grow their hair again,” he says. “For quite a long time, cutting your hair off felt like the modern, cool thing to do. Now I think there’s something about longer hair that suddenly feels fresher again.”

So, after almost a decade of going shorter, are we finally entering the long-hair era? And if so, why now?

Entering the Post-Bob Era

It's easy to assume we're all growing our hair because of the financial climate. A bob is notoriously high-maintenance, requiring regular trims to keep its shape, whereas growing your hair means fewer cuts and, theoretically, fewer expensive salon appointments. It's a fair assumption, but I'm not convinced.

The reason we're beginning to see the back of the bob is far more multifaceted. First, the bob has ultimately become a victim of its own success. Like any trend that reaches saturation point, its ubiquity eventually becomes the very thing that makes it feel less desirable.

“There have been so many versions of the bob that we’ve almost exhausted the language around it,” agrees Hersheson. “Every few months there’s supposedly a ‘new bob’, but ultimately it’s still a bob.”

And while he stresses that the bob isn't going anywhere—“it’s a classic haircut and always will be”—fashion inevitably moves on. “When something has dominated for that long, the thing that suddenly feels new is usually the opposite.”

At the same time, what we aspire to when it comes to our hair has changed. Scalp oils, growth serums, supplements, head spas, LED helmets—the beauty industry's attention has shifted from just styling our hair to optimising its health. The new goal isn't necessarily an elaborate cut or colour, but hair that looks intrinsically good: thick, glossy, strong and, increasingly, long.

It's a shift Anabel Kingsley, Brand President and Consultant Trichologist at Philip Kingsley, has noticed too. “I think it’s now widely understood that your best head of hair is a healthy head of hair,” she says, pointing to a growing understanding of the importance of “looking after the hair fibre, minimising heat, using protective products and supporting new growth by looking after the scalp.”

Crucially, we're also getting better at understanding how to actually retain the length we grow. Kingsley believes some people who previously struggled to grow their hair because of breakage and lifestyle factors are beginning to realise longer hair can be achievable by taking a more holistic approach. “Embracing natural hair—waves, curls and coils—has also helped,” she says. “The less you manipulate your hair with heat and straighteners, the better it is for it and the less breakage you’ll experience, which in turn translates to length retention.”

But there is something bigger happening here, too. Hersheson sees our pursuit of healthier hair as part of a much wider shift in beauty. “Beauty generally has moved away from this idea of constantly transforming yourself and more towards making what you already have look really good,” he says. “With hair, the aspiration now is increasingly: how good can my hair actually be? Can it be thicker, shinier, healthier, stronger, in better condition?”

Long Hair as a Status Symbol

The wellnessification of hair makes sense when you look at what's happening across beauty as a whole. The 2010s were defined by transformation and quick fixes; the current landscape increasingly focuses on optimisation, longevity and enhancement. In aesthetics, the trend for obvious augmentation has waned in favour of regenerative treatments and skin boosters; in skincare, prevention and long-term skin health have become the ultimate goals. Long, lustrous hair feels like the follicular extension of the same concept: less about transforming what you have and more about seeing just how good you can make it.

But there's another reason I think long hair feels particularly aspirational right now: you can't buy it overnight. It belongs to a new breed of beauty status symbol. Glass skin, immaculate natural nails, thick waist-skimming hair: on the surface, there's something conspicuously understated about all of them. But achieving them can require months, if not years, of consistent investment. The luxury isn't necessarily what appears on the surface; it's having the time, money and resources to achieve it.

My decision to get a bob took approximately three seconds and by squeezing in a last-minute salon appointment on my way home, I achieved the transformation that same day. Growing it back has taken two years—and counting. It has required patience, maintenance and, crucially, time. And even with all the growth serums, scalp treatments and supplements money can buy, there's only so much you can do to speed the process up.

And perhaps that's what makes long hair feel so aspirational right now. “Really beautiful, thick, healthy long hair is actually quite difficult to fake,” says Hersheson. “It takes time and commitment, which almost makes it feel more luxurious.”

Lottie's Hair Growth Edit

It's August, which means we're only halfway through the year. Nevertheless, I don't think we need to wait until December to confirm that the most annoying social media trend has already been awarded to the two little words that have been monopolising your feed and mine: "kinda chic".

On Instagram, this refers to a carousel where each photo is overlaid with text starting with "kinda chic to..." Examples of its usage range from the heartfelt—Reese Witherspoon's contribution started with, "kinda chic to be underestimated"—to the frankly rather niche ("kinda chic to know your barista by name," "kinda chic to order fries for the table," and, my personal favourite, "kinda chic to not dump ur lime bike").

It can't have started more than a few months ago—Witherspoon's post was as recent as 5 August—but the backlash quickly gathered pace; first with an inversion of the phrasing, "kinda not chic to...", before snowballing towards cringe with alarming speed. In short, kinda chic now has as much cachet as "Live, Laugh, Love". But while that trend at least had time to do a brisk trade in mugs and motivational coasters, kinda chic already has zero social currency. Coco Schiffer, a stylist based in New York, summarised the situation in six words on 2 August: "PSA: 'kinda chic' has been revoked". Cultural Memory, the newsletter written by Naomi May, hit my inbox this week with the subject line: "we must retire the adjective chic for the sake of humanity."

What's interesting—and equally what shows how trends now move at warp-speed—is that evidence suggests "chic" actually is falling out of favour. The Instagram account @databutmakeitfashion has reported that, "the word 'chic' is objectively losing its value". How they worked this out is by conducting a "sentimental analysis" on online articles mentioning the term. The results showed a clear downward trajectory to August (apparently "positive sentiment" has been dropping by 14% a month since March).

This feels like a fairly drastic reaction to a social media trend that went viral then went viral again (for the wrong reasons)—and is especially interesting because it's not "finger shoes" (which, for the record, have grown on me!) or a polarising item of clothing. This time, we're talking about a word.

I actually wrote my own newsletter about breaking up with the adjective earlier this month, for different reasons than "kinda chic", which was on my radar but obviously not irking me enough to include. It turns out one of my favourite writers, Hanya Yanagihara, banned the word from being used when she first joined as editor-in-chief of T Magazine. It's also the fact that it falls down on precision.

As I wrote in that post, "You see it deployed perhaps not interchangeably but in a similar context to words such as ‘elegant’, ‘put-together’ and even ‘minimal’, but while those can all be summarised more straightforwardly—put-together, for example, means someone who takes care of their appearance in a way that’s not just presentable but precise (that word again!)—chic is more of an umbrella term for all of the above, pretending at specificity and yet eluding a clear meaning other than something generally positive and grown-up."

I guess this is partly why it worked as a trend—for a (very) short while. It's a word that was able to be co-opted; your manicure could be chic but so could the way you parked your car or buttered your toast. Maybe, however, it's nothing to do with the word's lack of meaning, and more to do with how getting a bit rage-y online will always drive engagement. Anastasia Vartanian, whose online alter-ego is @fatannawintour, just posted a newsletter with an intriguing headline on her Substack, Cultural Cyberbully: "Everyone has to be annoying these days." It's about the cycle of despising people's "inane" captions and fluffy-mic videos and "algorithmically-mandated" hot takes, but then also realising that all of these things are a part and parcel of what it means to work in media right now. "After all, I’m also in the business of siphoning attention and turning it into money," is how she ends her introduction.

There is a solution to not getting dragged into a trend (and then dragged for participating in said trend). Vartanian is rebuilding her algorithm from the ground up. "Low cortisol content at its finest: no internet discourse, trends or formats, just vibes. People filming a video like they have no idea what a hook, a microtrend, a ring light or an affiliate link is. But that’s exactly the appeal." Now all you have to do is resist the urge to call that advice, "kinda chic".

I've been on an extended break from the salon for going on two whole years now. After years of bi-weekly gel manicures and a slew of too-harsh removals, my once long and strong nails were left in tatters: brittle and peeling; they were wholly incapable of growing.

While gel manicures shouldn't harm your nails, and any nail tech worth their salt will be gentle with removal, it was sadly too late for me, and I've spent the last few years trying to repair the damage. Part of that includes getting polish manicures and making sure the technician pays special attention to my cuticles.

During a recent appointment, I was intrigued by a rather retro tool being used: a nail brush. As my manicurist put it, they're essential if you're going for the "bare nail aesthetic" or are otherwise focused on recovery and want to keep your hands looking groomed and tidy throughout. Safe to say, I was sold. I bought one for a very reasonable £4, and it's since become a staple of my home nail care routine. Ahead, everything you need to know about this underrated tool and how to use it.

What Are Nail Brushes Good For?

"Nail brushes are a super simple and cost-effective tool for keeping nails, fingertips and surrounding skin clean," explains session manicurist Ami Streets. "They help remove dirt, debris and product residue that can collect around and underneath the nails, cleaning beneath the free edge of the nail, and getting into hard-to reach areas around the cuticle and nail folds."

But beyond cleanliness, they also provide a vital role when it comes to grooming: the gentle brushing action can also provide light stimulation and exfoliation to the skin, leaving hands feeling and looking refreshed and invigorated. "It's an essential to add-in to your daily grooming habits," adds Streets.

How to Use a Nail Brush

The key is to use them gently, explains the manicurist, so no aggressive scrubbing, especially on sensitive areas like cuticles.

To use a nail brush, first start by wetting your hands and nails with walk water, apply a mild hand soap or cleanser then gently brush around and underneath each nail using light pressure back-and-forth movements. "Pay particular attention to the underside of the free edge and the skin around the nail," adds Streets. "After brushing, rinse and dry your hands thoroughly, then follow with a nourishing hand cream, oil or balm and as always finish with a cuticle oil to replenish moisture and leave hands feeling soft and smooth."

If you're looking to use a nail brush as part of your grooming routine, use it first at the cleansing stage. Then proceed with the rest of your manicure.

Marie Claire-Approved Nail Care Products

It's official: friendships make us healthier. Physically, emotionally and in all the ways, having a good group of friends can - quite literally - save your life. Trust me: I've learned this the hard way.

When I was younger, it's fair to say I treated my friendships somewhat dismissively; easy to do when you think they'll always be around. While I always enjoyed hanging out with my mates, it wasn't until I had a traumatic friendship breakup in my mid 20s (IYKYK - the grief is real) that I really started to re-evaluate my relationship with those around me - and how I was taking them for granted.

And it's safe to say that I learned my lesson. These days, I'm lucky enough to have the very best friends I could ever have asked for. Some I've known since we were tiny at school, others I've made through the years at work, in the gym and at the school gates, among other places. I've got my solid ride-or-dies, ask no questions, help me bury the body (metaphorically speaking, of course) mates who are always there for me - and I never take them for granted.

This being said, there are obviously times when real life takes over, and I find myself not catching up with my besties as often - or as deeply - as we'd all like. The nights out never make it out of the group chat, and the chances of us all being free on the same weekend before 2030? Pretty much impossible. Throw kids and school holidays into the mix and before we know it, months have gone by without meaningful connection.

But if you can manage it, there's pretty solid scientific backing for giving your mates top billing. Research shows that adult friendship is positively correlated with wellbeing - and making effort to maintain our friendships also counts (check out this 2023 review of research studies, from the journal Frontiers in Psychology). But fascinatingly, the benefits don't end there, with further studies revealing a link between strong friendships and a reduced risk of mortality, improved health behaviours and lower risk of stroke (see this study, from the journal Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences).

So, when I was asked to treat my friendships like a wellness habit for a couple of months, I was all in. After all, if I can make time to work out, cook nutritious food and prioritise quality rest (a work in progress), why not promote hanging out with my friends to the top of my wellness list?

Would treating my friendships as a wellness habit for a month garner me any noticeable gains? Keep scrolling to find out - but while you're here, do check out Em the Nutritionist's top 5 wellness lessons she wishes she'd learned sooner, read all about one Health Writer's battle with health anxiety, and discover the simple, everyday habits that longevity researchers prioritise for healthy ageing, here.

I Treated Friendship Like a Wellness Habit for a Month—Here's What Happened

How is friendship connected to health and wellbeing?

It's well established that loneliness is a leading cause of ill health, with research showing that social isolation has a significant impact on both mental and physical health. Interestingly, it's also deeply rooted in our evolution.

"From an evolutionary perspective, human beings are fundamentally social," explains consultant psychologist Dr Louise Goddard Crawley. "For most of our history, belonging to a group wasn’t simply nice to have; it was essential for survival. Our brains and nervous systems evolved in that context, which helps explain why connection can feel so regulating, and why isolation can be genuinely painful."

It follows, then, that friendship is the perfect (but not only) antidote to this - there's a growing conversation around friendship as a protective factor for both emotional and physical health, and it's something that the experts wholeheartedly endorse, too.

"The mental health benefits of friendship are something we’ve all experienced," notes mental health nurse and coach Rosie Drage. "I know I feel ten times better after a few hours chatting with my best friends - but it’s about more than just mental wellbeing. Without friendships, we’re at risk of being more socially isolated, which can lead to poorer health outcomes too."

What are the benefits of prioritising friendships?

So, it's clear that friendships are unequivocally a good thing for all of us - but how might we notice the benefits of sharing our time, feelings and experiences with like-minded people? Let's take a look.

1. They keep us grounded

There's nothing quite like catching up with old friends - the ones who've known and loved you through all your various iterations and life stages. For those of us lucky enough to have long-standing friendships, this feeling of being deeply understood and accepted is incredibly grounding.

"Long-term friendship offers something that I think is quite profound," muses Dr Goddard Crawley. "Someone who has known you for decades becomes a keeper of your history. They remember versions of you that you may barely remember yourself. Who you were before the job, the relationship, the children, the difficult years, or whatever came next. There’s something enormously grounding about being known across all those different versions of yourself."

2. They help us to self-regulate

"We know that our physical and emotional wellbeing is interlinked," shares psychotherapist and counsellor Georgina Sturmer. "The presence of a support network in our lives can help us to feel calmer and can support us to manage our physical wellbeing when life gets difficult. Emotional and physical regulation isn’t just an internal process; we co-regulate our nervous system with those around us - meaning that the presence of others can help us to soothe ourselves, too."

3. They support healthy biological function

Yes, really. While the majority of friendship-related benefits are psychological, there are physiological advantages to having mates as well.

"Safe, positive relationships can reduce isolation, increase our sense of belonging, but they also help regulate our emotional and physiological responses to stress," shares psychotherapist and trauma coach Hannah McKimm. "Our nervous systems are constantly picking up and responding to signals from each other, often before we've consciously thought about it. Being with someone we trust can help our nervous system settle: we might notice our breathing slow, our shoulders drop, or our body soften. This can reduce the physical and emotional energy we're using to respond to potential threat, leaving more capacity for rest, recovery and everyday life."

4. They help us develop a sense of self

The people we choose to surround ourselves with become who we are, in many ways - the best friends will not only support us in the good times but (hopefully) challenge and question us in tougher times, too.

"From the moment we are born, we look to our caregivers for safety and security - and also to develop our sense of self, our sense of ‘who we are’ as people," Sturmer says. "And this continues through life; our friendships help us to feel known and understood, and to develop our sense of self."

5. Friendships help us through both good and bad times

"Friendship isn't only important when we're struggling," notes McKimm. "Joy, laughter, play, perspective and shared experiences are important parts of wellbeing too. When life is difficult, good friendships can also give us somewhere to share the emotional load."

I Treated Friendship Like a Wellness Habit for Two Months - Here Are My Honest Thoughts

Month one

If I'm being honest, this wasn't so much a challenge as a treat for me - as touched on above, I've long prioritised my friendships, and I'm well and truly reaping the rewards.

But that being said, being more intentional about making sure my friends are right at the top of my list has been a bit of a change for me. As a busy mum, I'm constantly putting the needs of my kids first, and - I won't lie - taking time to make sure I'm there for my friendships as well means there are moments when I have to weigh up who really needs me more, and this creates a bit of discomfort for me initially.

However, knowing how beneficial it is kind of helps - and it's not long before I'm leaning into seeing my friends a little more often and trying to open up to them more. Turns out, honesty breeds honesty, and chatting about our various struggles is more helpful than I'd anticipated. Usually, I'd wait until something has gone wrong to really get into the nitty-gritty of what's happening in my life - figuring that we all have things going on - but knowing that it's so good for us absolutely gives me the push I need.

That being said, it's not all about going deep. I'm not great at saying yes to more spontaneous outings, but I try and push my comfort zone, even agreeing to a spur of the moment catch up with a neighbour, which ends up being one of the loveliest evenings of the summer so far.

I've also planned some bigger nights out - a few close friends have had big birthdays this month, so celebrating them has been even more special than usual - and when the celebrations involve going to see Harry Styles on tour, let's just say I wouldn't miss it for the world! While I love hanging out with my little family, there's something so special about making these memories with my mates, too.

Month two

As the second month rolls around, I'm honestly enjoying this experiment so much. So far, I've had dinners, drinks, coffees, walks and more - and my cup feels well and truly filled. It's such a lovely feeling knowing that I can choose to spend my time with the most amazing people, and that they choose me right back - I highly recommend it.

Disclaimer, though - it does mean saying yes to a few more things than I'd usually have done, but looking back, I can honestly say that those times I was on the fence about something were all the ones that, in hindsight, I'm so glad I made the effort for.

As a natural introvert, I do have to push myself not to hibernate when I'm feeling tired, overwhelmed or stressed - and it's fair to say that I absolutely need (and crave) time by myself, but on the whole, I wouldn't change a single moment spent with my friends over the course of these two months. I've felt our relationships deepen, and I've also got so many fun plans to look forward to for the rest of the year now, too - turns out, putting things in the diary a few months ahead of time gives me a little dopamine boost on the daily.

I can't speak to any physical health benefits other than to say my Oura ring upgraded my resilience from strong (so already pretty good) to exceptional - and the only thing I can put it down to is treating my friendships as a wellness habit. Yes, I've had to be more vulnerable and let my guard down a little - but I can safely say it's been so worth it.

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We're all familiar with the benefits that targeted shampoos, hair masks, and heat protectants can do, but not many of us are maximising our haircare routine with pre-shampoo treatments. However, they are often the one step that your hair and scalp are desperately in need of.

If you've ever felt like your hair is still lacking something even after trying countless post-wash products, it's likely that you need to think more about what you're doing before shampooing—and how you're treating your scalp as well as your ends. Whether you're dealing with oiliness, dullness, frizz, or weak hair that needs strengthening, a pre-shampoo product could be for you.

Pre-shampoo treatments are anything you add to your hair before washing, rather than after, and can include hair growth serums, hair oils, spray conditioners, or even bond builders. Wet hair is much stretchier and more prone to breakage than dry hair, so applying products pre-wash helps protect and repair your hair in its strongest state.

As someone on a hair health journey and looking to get as much length as possible, these are the pre-shampoo treatments I swear by for noticeable results.

How We Test

The Marie Claire UK team takes product testing seriously, committed to delivering accurate, honest, and genuinely helpful reviews for our readers. For this piece, I've rounded up pre-shampoo products that I have used on my hair several times and have seen results from. I assessed texture, packaging, ease of use, how it feels on the scalp, and the all-important results after shampooing.

Best Pre-Shampoo Treatments

• Best for growth: Nature Spell, £9.99 at Amazon
• Best for repair: Olaplex No.3, £30.24 at Lookfantastic
• Best for strength: Rhute, £35 at Rhute
• Best for shine: Gisou, £22 at Sephora
• Best for scalp health: Olaplex No.0.5, £41 at Lookfantastic
• Best for oil reduction: Sam McKnight, £36 at Lookfantastic
• Best overnight treatment: Hair Syrup, £14.50 at Boots
• Best for blondes: She's Thick, £30 at She's Thick

Best for Growth: Nature Spell Rosemary Oil for Hair Growth With Root Comb Applicator

Nature Spell's rosemary oil is my most used pre-shampoo treatment, and it has almost certainly made a difference to my hair growth judging by the amount of friends that have marvelled at how long my hair has become recently. I apply mine using the handy dropper bottle anywhere from 20 minutes to the night before washing my hair, and despite the oil formula, it washes out easily with regular shampoo. As well as nourishing the scalp, my hair always looks and feels much silkier after washing with much less frizz to contend with.

Best for Repair: Olaplex No.3 Plus Complete Repair Treatment

Olaplex's hero product, No. 3, is the single haircare product I have never stopped using—I apply it once a week without fail, and you can tell how well-loved my pre-launch sample bottle is. The newly reformulated bond technology repairs damaged hair in just a few minutes when applied to wet, but not yet shampooed, hair. It replenishes moisture for increased softness, smoothness, and manageability, and reduces breakage and split ends to strengthen hair over time. If you have particularly damaged hair that needs more than just a heavy-duty conditioner, this pre-shampoo treatment will make the world of difference.

Best for Strength: Rhute Triple Density Complex

Unlike many scalp oils, this Rhute formula is applied from roots to ends to target hair density, shedding, breakage, overall strength. It's also much more lightweight than traditional hair oils, so it even works for fine hair that without leaving a residue. I love that this hybrid treatment offers both scalp care and strand nourishment in one, so you don't need to turn to different products for your scalp and ends. I'm also a huge fan of the subtly sweet scent that makes me look forward to applying it a few times a week. After several uses, my hair not only appears to be shedding less (a huge plus for me), but it's also softer and shinier.

Best for Shine: Gisou Honey Gloss Collagen Drops Hair Oil

I've been using these Gisou drops for months to tame dry hair, but I recently discovered that they can be used as a pre-shampoo treatment too. This works particularly well if you have dull but fine hair that doesn't agree with overly oily formulas, as this product is much more watery in nature and easy to wash out. Apply as many drops as your hair needs to your ends and leave for at least 30 minutes before washing out, and the hair looks much glossier and feels softer too.

Best for Scalp Health: Olaplex No. 0.5 Scalp Longevity Treatment

Poor scalp health can lead to increased hair shedding, dryness, and a wealth of other issues—so a scalp treatment can make the world of difference. I've been using the Olaplex Scalp Longevity Treatment for a while and I love that it's totally non-greasy, easy to apply, and its instant soothing powers that nourish the scalp's barrier. If you have a particularly dry or flaky scalp, this is for you. Although it can be applied post-shampoo too, I find that it works best applied the night before washing so it can really sink in and get to work. It isn't heavy or oily, so it's more than comfortable to sleep in. Plus, it means that my hair and scalp feel extra clean and nourished after shampooing.

Best for Oil Reduction: Hair by Sam McKnight Pure Genius 98% Natural Scalp Restoring Oil

It may sound counterintuitive to use an oil to combat greasiness, but that's exactly what this Sam McKnight pre-wash treatment does. It helps to refresh your scalp so your hair feels cleaner, softer, and more hydrated post-shampoo. Apply to dirty hair, massage into the scalp, and leave for a minimum of ten minutes whilst it gets to work. The formula helps to lift build-up on your roots so your hair feels cleaner, but it also locks in moisture so your scalp won't produce excess oil to rehydrate after washing.

Best Overnight Treatment: Hair Syrup Pre-Wash Hair Oil Rapunzel

If you're after a heavy-duty treatment you can leave to sink in overnight, Hair Syrup gets my vote. It's designed for dull and stubborn hair that struggles to grow, saturating it with nourishing ingredients to moisturise from root to end. It does have a heavier feel due to the oil formula, but it still washes out easily with shampoo. I apply it all over my dry hair the night before washing, and it not only makes my hair much easier to manage the next day, but it makes it significantly softer and glossier too.

Best for Blondes: She's Thick Hair Growth & Repair Oil for Blondes

If you bleach your hair, you know just how brittle and dull it can get. This pre-wash treatment is designed with blondes in mind, strengthening and conditioning whilst protecting colour—and making hair feel thicker and look shinier. It has a lovely minty scent that revitalises the scalp, and it has a moisturising oily texture that isn't too heavy. It's another one that washes out easily in the shower, and it can be used from roots to ends on dry hair and left on for as long as you like.

Ever trained for a big event and then completely lost all motivation to the point where you question if you'll ever get your passion back? Because same. For the past few weeks, I've been in what I can only describe as a running slump after completing the Manchester Half Marathon at the end of May.

I'm usually fairly consistent when it comes to running, except for the odd lull from time to time, but I've noticed a pattern after races - once it's over, my motivation can take a serious hit. Don't get me wrong, after following a training plan in the three months leading up to it, I fully intended to take a short break from running when I crossed the finish line. But what I didn't anticipate was how much of a struggle I'd find getting back into my usual routine.

I finished the race itself with that exhilarating runner's high and was even Googling my next event on the way home. So, after the tension in my legs eased a few days later, instead of lacing up my running shoes, I talked myself out of going. And I did the same the next day, and the day after that.

I knew the 'post-race blues' weren't just something I was experiencing. Even elite athletes can experience a psychological comedown after a major competition. Take, for example, this research published in Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, which found that the period after the Olympics could be a difficult time for UK Olympians. And while I'm not suggesting my half marathon training is comparable to training for an Olympic event, the feeling was surprisingly familiar.

Determined to get out of this running rut, I turned to experts for some advice. Here's what I discovered - and what happened when I tried their advice for myself. And, while you're here, if you're looking for some running inspo, our features on the benefits of running, why more women are taking up running, and the best races to book might help.

I Fell Into An Exercise Slump After Completing a Race: Here's How I Got Over It

Why do we get the post-race blues?

According to clinical psychologist Dr Tracy King, after completing a big event, it's common for runners to feel a little lost because the structure, stimulation and sense of purpose that have carried them through months of training suddenly disappear.

"A training plan decides what happens on Tuesday evening, what the weekend is for and what the runner is working towards," she told me. "It reduces daily decision-making and provides frequent evidence of progress. Once the race is over, that external structure disappears overnight."

The research backs up the idea that what happens around a race can influence how we feel afterwards, too. This 2022 study of 152 amateur runners found that how successfully they achieved their goals, alongside levels of perfectionism, was associated with their mood in the week following a 10k race.

That made sense to me, as for the past few months I knew what days I was running, what route I was taking and the distance I was covering. Anyone training for a big event will relate when I say it sort of becomes your identity - you spend months planning your weekends around runs and clocking up the miles before it all comes to a head.

Why is recovery so important?

Rest and recovery are hugely underestimated, says personal trainer Carly Corrigall. 'The event itself is the tip of the iceberg. Beneath it lie months of training and preparation, and your body (and brain) needs to recover from all of it - not just one day.'

As personal trainer and running coach Sarah Campus puts it: After training for a specific event like a half marathon, marathon or HYROX, your body needs time to recover. It’s very easy to think that because you can physically get through the event that you should be ready to jump straight back into training, but your body has just been under a huge amount of stress.

So, how much time should you take off from running, and exercise in general, after an event?

Corrigall says there's no blanket rule, as it will vary between individuals. "As a baseline, even if you think you're feeling fine straight after an event, I'd always advise taking a complete week off from proper training as your body really needs that time to recover as a minimum."

After that, for most people, the aim is to scale back up to normal activity levels over the next 2-4 weeks, but there really is no rush, says Corrigall. "Think of this as a 'reverse taper' (most runners will be familiar with the concept of a taper leading up to a race) - here we're building back up to usual distance and pace or weight if you're lifting, rather than scaling down."

How to get of an exercise slump

Weeks on from my race, I still hadn't found my running mojo again, so I asked the experts to share their top tips for how I could realistically ease back into my routine again. And while my slump came after a race, their advice can be applied to getting out of an exercise slump more generally, too.

1. Start small

If you're in an exercise slump, the hardest part is often getting started again, which can feel easier said than done when your motivation levels are at zero. Corrigall recommends starting small.

"One tip which works brilliantly is to agree with yourself that you're just going to do your chosen run or workout for 10 minutes," advises Corrigall. "By giving yourself permission to stop after 10 mins, most people find that they can manage that, no problem, and often find themselves thinking, "Well, I've started, and it feels ok, so I'll keep going."

2. Take the pressure off

Not putting any pressure on your performance will help towards finding enjoyment in running again. Campus says you should forget pace, forget distance and forget what your splits looked like before your race.

"Your first run may only be 20 - 30 minutes, and it should feel really easy and conversational. You’re not trying to prove anything; you are simply moving your body and reminding your body that running can feel enjoyable," she says.

3. Try something new

Sometimes the slump is your body telling you it needs a break from running specifically, says Corrigall.

'If you've been training for months with one focus, doing something completely different for a little while, whether that's strength work, swimming, cycling or doing classes, can freshen things up - and you might find that you start to miss those runs and look forward to getting back to them."

Campus adds that giving yourself permission to do something different can also help with motivation. "Give yourself something to look forward to rather than immediately setting another huge goal," she says. "It could be a relaxed social run with friends, trying a new route, joining a run club, running somewhere beautiful or even signing up for a shorter, fun event."

4. Don't wait for motivation

For me, I'd been blaming my lack of motivation for stopping me from getting back into my usual running routine, but as Corrigall told me, you don't necessarily need to feel motivated before you start moving again.

"If the slump is just a slump, then this is completely normal, so don't beat yourself up," she says. "However, the idea that 'motivation follows action' is definitely true, and my biggest tip here is just to get started - however imperfect that might look or however unfit you might feel. And it's completely normal to find those first sessions hard."

My experiment: How I got out of an exercise slump

I'd love to say I followed the experts' advice and immediately fell back in love with running, but in reality it took a couple of months to properly find my way out of the running slump.

The first few runs after my half marathon were inconsistent, to say the least, and if I'm being honest, I didn't enjoy them. I was still putting pressure on myself to get back to where I'd been before the race, whether that meant running the same distances, maintaining the same pace, or generally feeling as enthusiastic as I usually did.

I came close to booking another race a couple of times, but I realised another goal wasn't what I needed. I wanted to learn to fall back in love with running without putting added pressure on myself to jump straight back into training.

The turning point came when I stopped trying so hard to get my running 'back on track'. I eased off the pressure, stopped worrying about what my next race would be, and just headed out with no distance or goal in mind.

One of the things Campus had suggested was changing my environment: "It could be a relaxed social run with friends, trying a new route, joining a run club, running somewhere beautiful or even signing up for a shorter, fun event." So, one Saturday morning when I usually head out for a run, I took part in my local Parkrun. I've always loved the community aspect of it, as well as not having the pressure to complete a long distance. I loved being able to just turn up, run and go home.

Slowly but surely, I found myself wanting to get outside first thing for a run, rather than make excuses not to do it. There was no instant, overnight fix. The biggest lesson I've learnt? I didn't need another goal to enjoy running again; I needed to take the goal away.

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After months spent basking in the sunshine, you may start to notice increased pigmentation and other signs of sun damage appearing on your skin come September. While it can be an unwelcome consequence of summer, it’s incredibly common—and the good news is there are plenty of ways to help repair and restore sun-damaged skin.

"Sun damage is one of the most significant threats to skin health and it impacts the skin in a range of ways," says Dr Leah Totton, a medical and cosmetic doctor and founder of Dr Leah Clinics. Many of us don't realise sun damage is happening until well after summer, which is why understanding causes, prevention, and repair is so crucial to avoid long-term problems.

From beginner-friendly retinol and salon treatments that support repair to SPF moisturisers and foundations that ward off further damage, here's what you need to know about treating sun-damaged skin.

What are the signs of sun damage?

"Common signs of sun-damaged skin include sunburn in the short term. But longer term the signs of sun damage include increased pigmentation in the form of freckles and moles, melasma age spots that can appear on exposed areas, actinic keratoses which are rough scaly patches, and broken enlarged blood vessels typically around the nose and cheeks," explains Dr Leah.

"UV radiation also breaks down collagen and elastin, which leads to a loss of skin elasticity resulting in sagging skin and fine lines. One of the most common signs of sun damage that we see people seeking to address in clinic are age spots, melasma and hyperpigmentation—all of which are extremely common towards the end of the summer."

Can sun damage be reversed?

"Sun damage occurs primarily from UV radiation which impacts the skin in two main ways," explains Dr Leah. "UVB rays damage DNA in skin cells, creating structural errors, whereas UVA rays generate oxidative damage that breaks down collagen and elastin, resulting in wrinkles and sagging skin.

"Sun damage can be partially reversed through a combination of topical products, in-clinic treatments, and consistent sun protection, however not all the damage can be fully undone." That's why keeping on top of SPF application is so crucial year-round, but particularly throughout the summer months.

What products or treatments should I use to target sun damage?

"Topical ingredients that can help to treat sun damage include retinoids, vitamin C and AHAs," says Dr Leah. "These ingredients are known for their ability to stimulate collagen production, accelerate cell renewal and fade pigmentation. However, whilst they can improve the surface appearance of sun-damaged skin, they can’t fully reverse structural changes in the dermis like an in-clinic treatment can," she notes.

If you have severe sun damage, a professional treatment may be the best solution. "The most effective way to target sun damage is through in-clinic treatments which address the changes in the dermis and trigger the skin’s natural repair process, promoting cell turnover," says Dr Leah.

"At Dr Leah Clinics our key treatment to address sun damage is a combination BBL and Moxi treatment. BBL stands for BroadBand Light, and this is an advanced form of intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy that uses broad-spectrum light to target pigment in the skin, such as melanin in brown spots and haemoglobin in red spots or blood vessels.

"Moxi uses a non-ablative fractional laser to create tiny micro-coagulation zones. This helps to prompt the body to rid itself of damaged cells and then build fresh collagen for a smoother surface. It targets the superficial layers of the skin without removing the outermost layer, with the tiny performations triggering the skin’s natural repair process. By stimulating collagen remodelling it promotes cell turnover and improves skin tone, texture, and pigmentation. It’s effective for early sun damage, fine lines, uneven tone, and pigmentation issues. The combination of Moxi and BBL is effective because they target different layers of the skin and support each other’s results."

How can I prevent further sun damage?

"The key to preventing further sun damage is protecting all exposed skin with a broad spectrum high factor SPF at all times, not just when it’s sunny," says Dr Leah. "It’s important to apply SPF more often if you’re sweating or in and out of water, and to also wear protective clothing such as sunglasses and wide-brimmed hats."

Products to help sun damaged skin

For our sixth Women in Sport cover shoot, we’re on location at a remote farm in Buckinghamshire. The temperatures are practically Mediterranean, but the heat doesn’t seem to faze Lioness, trailblazer and global icon Chloe Kelly, who shot to fame after scoring the winning goal in the 2022 Euros final. She arrives on set with her three cavapoochons, Otis, Rolo and Brody, raving about an acai bowl she had for breakfast (with Nutella on top, of course; she’s on record as being a huge fan) and—having recently signed with the brand for a reported seven figures—wearing head-to-toe adidas.

As a lifelong Arsenal supporter and Lionesses admirer, it’s hard not to fangirl. I was in the stands for her Euros 2022 winning goal against Germany, which brought glory to the nation for the first time in 56 years. I was in a pub in Euston when she scored the winning Euros penalty last year, cementing England’s first ever double-Euro victory. And I was in the crowd at this year’s Arsenal parade, where the screams for the women’s team were as loud (if not louder) than the men’s.

I’ll never forget her waving her shirt around her head in victory during that 2022 final—a cultural moment that embodied freedom, strength, and unbridled joy. It became a symbol for something much bigger, resonating with women globally and reminding us not only of how strong we are, but what we can achieve. That celebration, alongside the unprecedented win, cemented women’s football as a mainstay and changed the course of history forever.

But for Kelly, it was just another day at the office. “Being at Wembley and winning a major tournament that I’d dreamt of as a young girl was surreal. But then you’re back to reality,” she laughs. “It was all over in a flash—I honestly can’t remember much about it.”

What she does remember is the amazing group of teammates she played alongside, the shift it instigated for growth of the sport, and the post-match celebrations—her favourite being a street party with her parents’ neighbours on the estate she grew up on in West London. “It was really nice to go home, show my medal and celebrate with those people, because actually, they’re the ones that made this moment. When I was young, they allowed me into that cage or pushed me to be better. You learn about yourself in those moments, you know?”

The cage she’s referring to is the enclosed football pitch on Windmill Park Estate in Southall where she spent her formative years playing with her five older brothers (Kelly is the youngest child of seven). She smiles as she admits that most of her happiest childhood memories centre around that cage. “We’d play late at night or early in the morning; whenever we could,” she recalls. “I was the only girl there, which I felt very comfortable with, because they made me feel like I belonged there.”

She also acknowledges how lucky she was to have had that—both having the cage there on the estate and being given access to it—when she knows lots of other young girls still aren’t given that today. “Not having to pay to play sport is something that should be for everyone,” she says. “But I understand that many girls wouldn’t be able to go into that environment and feel comfortable. Thanks to my brothers, I was.” Normalising mixed workout groups and creating safe, welcoming sports spaces for all genders is a change she’d love to see.

To picture a younger Kelly kicking a ball around a council estate is almost hard to envisage now—as one of England’s best players, we’re more used to seeing her playing on pitches at the world’s best stadiums. Alongside scoring several of England’s winning Euro goals in 2022 and 2025, Kelly was ranked fifth in the Ballon d’Or Féminin last year (a season she called her best). Loved by football fans, she’s amassed a cult-like fanbase who praise her for being “clutch” under pressure (videos of Arsenal fans screaming her name went viral in May during the Champions League parade), while to millions of others globally—many of them less interested in the sport than they are in Kelly herself—she’s a role model, icon, and inspiration.

This wasn’t always the case. Kelly was something of a dark horse during the 2022 Euro tournament—she spent a lot of time away from competitive play after a near-year-long injury almost threatened her inclusion in the squad altogether. Her recovery was nothing short of miraculous, and a feat Kelly’s proud of to this day. “To be honest, I was a whole heap of emotions,” she says, looking back at that time. I was out for 11 months with my ACL. Looking at it now, for any player that’s going through that, I hope it can serve as inspiration.”

So much has shifted for women’s football—and Kelly personally—in the past few years, that ACL injury likely now feels like a lifetime ago. She got married in 2024; in 2025, she moved to Arsenal from Manchester City after four years at the club.

Her departure from City last year was dubbed by Sky Sports as “one of the most public and fraught transfers in WSL history”, and Kelly herself has been open about how tumultuous that period of time was for her, both mentally and physically—to the point that her hair started falling out. “I had alopecia, and I never really accepted that,” she admits. “I’d heard about it from people and TV, but when I started losing my hair, I was only 26, and I just thought to myself: ‘I play football because I love it, and now I don’t love it so much, my hair’s falling out.’ It wasn’t the football itself—it was the environment around me,” she reflects.

Another time, she says, her husband, Scott, had to pick her up off the bathroom floor after crippling anxiety and panic attacks left her constantly being sick. “That was the moment for me where I was like, ‘No, this isn’t normal.’ I accepted it as normal for too long.”

It’s hard to picture the footballer stressed, let alone this level of unwell. We’ve met on multiple occasions, and she’s always exuded calm, is constantly smiling, and has a soothing, easy-going presence. Kelly credits therapy, journalling, and a change of environment for rebuilding her mental health. “I worked with an amazing psychiatrist, and I look back at that time now, and I’m like: ‘That’s one in my pocket I can always keep,’ she says. “I have a book that has everything that I’ve learned.”

Speaking candidly about mental health is, Kelly believes, crucial for someone in her position. “It’s important that we speak up and use our voice to show what’s normal and what’s not normal,” she says, “because someone else might not feel comfortable enough to.”

Something that becomes increasingly apparent as we chat is that Kelly—multifaceted, personable, admirably open—is so much more than “just” a footballer. That is, of course, part of her global appeal. Despite fronting campaigns for the likes of Calvin Klein, she remains remarkably down to earth. “I just wanted to be a footballer,” she jokes when I ask her what it’s like seeing her face on billboards.

But being included in global campaigns and getting dressed up for red-carpet events—like the recent Harper’s Bazaar Woman of the Year Awards (where she shared that being there made her feel like “that girl”)—make her realise how far she’s come. “Sometimes when things aren’t going well, and it’s not great on the pitch, it’s like having a little switch off,” she says. “It’s nice to glam up and not always be in football kit. I love switching it up. I love my streetwear, but I love heels and glamming up, too.”

Reflecting on how her style has evolved over the years, she credits curiosity, growing confidence, and her friend and stylist, Karl Willett. “I love learning about fashion,” she enthuses. “My biggest learning has been to not always just look at what’s on the hanger—you have to like how you wear it, and have the confidence to go with it.”

When I ask her how she deals with the pressure of the global stage and her “clutch” reputation, Kelly is collected in her response. “It’s just my job, really, to be the best I can possibly be in that moment. I never take playing for my country for granted—I just want to give it my all.” She also credits her sister, Paris, for keeping her sane. Paris “hates” football, which helps Kelly to switch off. “I value the balance,” she admits.

Kelly smiles as she recounts the family parties they used to host whenever England were playing in a major tournament—they’d wear their football shirts, complete with captains’ armbands—and host neighbours in the back garden, “Vindaloo” playing on the speaker.

“I’m proud to be English, and I’ve always been a proper England fan.” She grins. “Every time I step on the pitch, I remember that young girl and try to envisage what she’d want as a fan. She’d want energy, excitement, and to win—so I play with my heart on my sleeve and try to create energy from within.”

So, what’s next? Kelly would love to see young girls encouraged into the sport in the same way she was. She can see how much the space has shifted, even in the last three years, but thinks there’s still a way to go. “I watched a video the other day of a young girl going over to her coach. She was one of the only girls in the team. She was uncomfortable and felt like, if she made a mistake, it’s because she was a girl. I’d like to see some change there in terms of mindset.”

Progress is happening, she says, but girls are still feeling like they don’t belong in certain fields. “Hopefully, in the future, there will be more space for those girls to feel like they have a place to go.” In Kelly’s opinion, the onus lies with the parents and the boys: together, they have the power to make spaces inclusive. “Seeing both girls and boys with our names on the back of their shirts is a game-changing moment for us,” she explains, “because the boys could be the ones to make sure those girls are accepted in those environments.”

She’s also passionate about evening out the playing field for existing professional female footballers. The resources and support she and her fellow teammates get at Arsenal is second-to-none (the club has a female health coach and an extensive support network of physios, coaches and trainers to support players through their menstrual cycles, pregnancies and breast health). But not every club offers—or is currently able to offer—the same. “It’s amazing to see the game taking steps forward,” she says, “but there’s so much more that can be done.”

There’s also the pressing issue of the gender sporting gap. Kelly notes that at the moment female footballers are “kind of like guinea pigs”, with regard to monitoring and assessing how the female body responds to training and playing at the level they’re at. “There’s just not enough research, because we haven’t been professional for long enough,” she says. “A lot of research is still on men’s bodies—on the pitches that they play on, and the boots that they wear.” All professional female footballers want, she adds, is the funding, research, and support systems to be able to do their jobs in the same way men can.

Kelly is keen to inspire as many youngsters into football as possible, too, especially those that come from backgrounds similar to hers: “I’m proud to be from West London, and proud to represent that area. If I can inspire young girls and boys to see what’s possible… that’s a mark I’d like to leave.”

“It’s important to remember where I came from,” she continues. “I’ll never forget that young girl from a council estate. That’s what makes me appreciative of my life now and determined to show young girls that anything is possible.”

One thing’s for sure—she’s not slowing down anytime soon. “I’m really happy with my career so far,” she says, smiling, “but I want to win so much more, too.” There’s no doubt at all in my mind that she will.

Photographer - Steph Wilson
Stylist - Lyla Cheng
Managing Director - Hannah Almassi
Editor - Ally Head
Makeup Artist - Athena Paginton
Hair Stylist - Narad Kutowaroo
Manicurist - Nichole Williams at Stella Creative Artists using CHANEL Le Vernis in Skieuse and CHANEL La Crème Main
Videographer - Rebecca Munroe
Photography Assistant - Paulina Mytych
Styling Assistant - Marilena Angelides
Production - Town Productions

Turning 34 several weeks ago meant having a funny internal conversation about whether I could still realistically count myself in my 'early-thirties' these days. The conclusion I came to was that no, I was now officially in 'mid-thirties' territory – and while there was nothing scary about this whatsoever, it did offer me the perfect opportunity to take stock of my skincare and makeup to determine if it's still working for me at this age.

Makeup-wise, I feel as though I've sort of grown out of foundations. As you hit your thirties and beyond, it's fairly normal to switch to lighter base products that don't cling to dryness, fine lines, and the like. I've since become a skin tint girlie through and through. But sometimes, I do feel like reaching for a foundation, be it on a day when my skin needs a little extra 'help,' or before an evening event I want a little 'more' for.

This is when I discovered the magic of foundation balms, which are said to be a great option for your thirties and beyond thanks to their sheer-yet-buildable coverage and blurring properties. Pro Makeup Artist, Joy Adenuga, calls them "an excellent option for anyone concerned about dryness or fine lines, as they move with the skin rather than settling into texture." That said, they're pretty versatile, working for a range of skin types (normal, dry, combination). Oily skin types may just need to powder them down, but can still certainly enjoy them.

Foundation balms, Adenuga describes, "make for easy application and bridge the gap between skincare and foundation." She adds: "Unlike traditional liquid foundations, which tend to be water-based and available in a range of finishes from matte to dewy, balm formulas are rich in emollients, oils and waxes that melt into the skin on contact. This gives them a creamy texture and a finish that looks incredibly skin-like rather than overly perfected."

For application, Celebrity Makeup Artist Mezhgan Hussainy says starting with less is key. "You can build coverage, but it's much harder to take it away," she explains. "With a balm, I like to pick up a small amount and start in the centre of the face, where most people need the most evening out, and blend outward." For this texture, you can use fingertips, a beauty sponge or a dense brush, "depending on the formula and the finish you want."

If you're interested in trying a balm foundation, the good news is that more and more are hitting the market. From old favourites to newer gems by L'Oreal Paris and Clinique, here's how I fared when trying 5 of the best foundation balms.

How We Test

The Marie Claire UK team takes product testing seriously, committed to delivering accurate, honest, and genuinely helpful reviews for our readers. We applied and wore each of these foundation balms for extended periods and in different conditions to properly assess how they perform. We assessed each for packaging, texture, coverage, skincare benefits, shade range, longevity, and finish.

The Best Foundation Balms

• Best overall: Clinique Daily Calm | £43 at Boots
• Best lightweight: L'Oréal Paris True Match | £18.99 at Boots
• Best matte: Laura Mercier Tinted Blur Balm | £39 at Boots
• Best dewy: Merit The Minimalist | £34 at Merit
• Best coverage: Trinny London Just A Touch | £29 at Trinny London

Best Overall: Clinique Daily Calm™ Foundation Makeup Balm

Clinique's Daily Calm Foundation Makeup Balm is still fairly new to the market, but it's made a major impression already – particularly, in this case, on me. My favourite of the bunch, this hydrating, blurring balm has a gorgeous skin-like finish thanks to its sheer-yet-buildable coverage. It feels light and fresh on the skin, which is no surprise given it features a soothing botanical blend, calming magnolia, and hyaluronic acid to create the perfect makeup-meets-skincare complexion product.

Best lightweight: L'Oréal Paris True Match Hyaluron Tinted Balm Solid Foundation

The newest product to hit the stands, L'Oreal Paris' offering is an affordable way to dip your toe into foundation balms if you're still a little hesitant. This is a great lightweight formula that has a buildable level of coverage, starting super naturally. Perhaps the other biggest selling point here is its skincare-first ingredients list, which spotlights hyaluron emollients to hydrate and blur the skin, for a gorgeous flattering effect that also prioritises skin health. Best applied with a dense foundation brush, this is the perfect entry point into this category.

Best Matte: Laura Mercier Tinted Blur Balm

Laura Mercier's balm has a definite blurring effect that'll have a clear appeal to those who prefer more of a matte finish. If you're excess oil-prone, this will be a great one to try. I did find the Tinted Blur Balm to feel a little less hydrating than some of the others, meaning it clung to areas of dryness (and a few fine lines) in my skin, perhaps indicating it's better for slightly younger skin. However, this may just be my skin type; if you like a matte finish, it is still well worth a go.

Best Dewy: Merit The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick

Not a 'balm' in the traditional sense, Merit's Complexion Stick is a long-time favourite of mine, and its smooth, balmy texture means I was happy to sneak it into this line-up. For those where time is of the essence come morning time, a balm in a stick like this one is arguably far more convenient; it's just so easy to swipe on and go. The Minimalist has a lovely dewy (yet natural) finish that looks velvety and smooth, and a little goes a long way. Apply it directly to the face, then buff in with a dense brush.

Best Coverage: Trinny London Just A Touch

After something with a little more coverage? Try a rich balm like Trinny London's, which is designed to be used in small amounts (it's very pigmented) and buffed out. I use this right after applying some dewy skincare, and add a little with my fingertips before blending across my face. It can also be used as a concealer when applied directly to a specific area, making it a great multitasker, too.

So, you’re burnt out. Properly burnt out. The kind where answering “how are you?” feels like an unreasonable question and your idea of self-care is moving your laptop from the desk to the sofa. And yet, for the go-getters, over-achievers, chronic over-committers, and serial multitaskers, many of us are genuinely shocked when a week of annual leave doesn’t magically fix us.

We all (sadly) know the drill: you spend six months running on caffeine, high cortisol and sheer force of will, finally collapse onto a sun lounger, and expect your body to go, 'Ah, lovely. We’re healed.' Except not quite.

Because if the environment, habits and boundaries that got you to burnout in the first place are waiting patiently for your return, a week off can feel less like recovery and more like borrowed time.

The harder pill to swallow? Genuine recovery asks a little more of us. Fueling adequately has to be non-negotiable. Training needs to match your actual capacity, not the imaginary version of yourself who apparently has unlimited energy. And rest comes in more forms than lying horizontally for seven days and hoping for the best.

Reportedly, 776,000 UK workers experienced work-related stress, depression or anxiety in 2023/24, resulting in 16.4 million working days lost. The picture being painted is clear: burnout may not be an official medical diagnosis, but it’s become one of the defining health challenges of modern work. Yet, somehow, we’re still expecting a week off to fix it. So, I put it to the experts: what does genuine recovery actually look like - physically, mentally, and emotionally?

Don't miss our guides to avoidable energy-draining habits, how to boost energy, and how to beat fatigue while you're here.

The Real Reason Why You’re Exhausted But Still Can’t Switch Off

Before we brand ourselves as burnt out because one final straw sent us spectacularly over the edge, it’s worth remembering that burnout has a specific definition. As Emily Austen, author of The Smarter, an empowering manifesto for breaking free from burnout, explains, it isn’t simply another way of saying you’re tired of your job.

“The World Health Organisation classifies it as an occupational phenomenon resulting from chronic, unmanaged workplace stress,” she says, “characterised as exhaustion, growing cynicism or mental distance from your work, and a drop in your sense of effectiveness. Crucially, burnout is not a medical diagnosis in itself.”

That distinction matters. “Burnout isn't just a mood, and it's also not a catch-all,” Austen says. It can affect mood, regulation, physical health, mental load and social capacity - which perhaps explains why a week in the Algarve isn’t quite the reset button we imagine it will be.

“Here’s what nobody tells you about burnout: it isn’t a deficit you can top up. It’s not a battery. It’s a pattern,” she adds. "A week away doesn’t necessarily touch the pattern, because the pattern was never really about location."

So why, when you’re utterly exhausted, are you still so wired?

Clinical Psychologist Dr Emma Hepburn explains that changes in the brain and body mean that, although you’re worn down and depleted, your threat response can be ramped up - making it surprisingly difficult to switch off. “This leads to one of the ironies of burnout,” she says. “Although you need rest and replenishment, you are on high alert, which makes it hard to sleep or rest.”

Hepburn describes our resources as a kind of ‘body budget’, with the brain constantly trying to keep things in balance. “In burnout, that budget is chronically overdrawn, perhaps even bankrupt”. And, just as one pay cheque won’t clear a mountain of debt, “a short break won’t bring it back into balance”; the body needs longer-term input to replenish its resources.

The Link Between Burnout, Safety and Recovery

We’ve established that burnout can leave your threat response ramped up. But what does feeling safe actually have to do with being burnt out - and why does it matter for recovery?

​Maybe I’m naive, but I’d never really connected the two. In my head, burnout was exhaustion, irritability and brain fog - not something that had anything to do with whether my body felt safe.

​But this is where the physiology gets interesting. When your brain perceives an ongoing threat, your body responds accordingly. “When your body doesn't feel safe, it is in what I refer to in my book as ‘threat mode’,” explains health psychologist Dr Sula Windgassen. “Multiple systems - including your hormonal, metabolic, cardiovascular and immune systems - become activated to protect you.

​The problem? They’re not designed to stay switched on indefinitely. “Over a long time, this activation results in further depletion, because you simply don't have the resources to remain activated chronically,” says Windgassen.

​And that creates a rather vicious cycle: the longer your body stays in threat mode, the more depleted its resources become, while that depletion itself makes recovery harder. “When these systems become depleted, your body's ability to recover is physiologically impeded,” she explains.

​TLDR: recovery isn’t simply about doing less. Your body needs to feel safe enough to come out of threat mode.

The Overlooked Role of Food in Burnout Recovery

Now, for the often overlooked piece of the puzzle: food. I’m guilty of blaming exhaustion on under-fuelling, but I’d never really considered that not eating enough could be contributing to how burnt out I feel.

“Chronic stress is energetically expensive,” says nutritionist Hannah Alderson. “When the stress response is repeatedly activated, cortisol helps mobilise glucose to give the brain and muscles energy to deal with a perceived threat. Your body’s greatest asset when you are stressed is energy.”

So what happens when you’re already stressed and then take that energy away? “You’ve got an even more stressed system,” says Alderson. “Skipping meals or chronically under-eating can create another physiological stressor, while falling blood glucose can trigger hormones such as cortisol, potentially adding to that familiar shaky, anxious, irritable, exhausted-but-wired feeling.”

Emerging research supports this: a 2025 study of working adults found that more nutrient-dense dietary patterns were associated with lower levels of emotional exhaustion and cognitive fatigue; meanwhile, research on low energy shows that chronic under-fuelling can affect multiple physiological systems, reinforcing why adequate energy intake matters when the body is already under strain.

The answer isn’t necessarily some magical “stress-busting” nutrient. “Food can support and optimise your stress and resilience and therefore recovery from burnout,” says Alderson. She recommends focusing on the nutritional foundations: regular meals containing protein, healthy fats, fibre-rich carbohydrates and plenty of colourful plants, “to provide steady energy and the nutrients needed for normal nervous-system and energy metabolism.” Magnesium, B vitamins, Omega-3 fats, iron and vitamin D all have a vital role to play, she adds, “although supplements shouldn’t replace food or correct a genuine deficiency.”

5 Science-Backed, Simple Ways to Fix Burnout - According to the experts

Pause the scrolling; we have some good news. Recovery doesn’t have to mean radically overhauling your life overnight. Here, the experts share five simple places to start.

1. Eat breakfast before you reach for the coffee

At the point where you’re completely frazzled? Alderson has one simple nutrition habit she wants you to prioritise: eat breakfast.

“This is a hill I will die on. Ideally, eat within 90 minutes of waking, including a good source of protein alongside fibre and healthy fats. Something as simple as eggs with wholegrain toast and avocado, or Greek yoghurt with berries, nuts and seeds, can give the body a much more supportive start than running on caffeine alone.”

And importantly, have your coffee after food. “Let’s not throw a stimulant into the system first thing,” she says. “Caffeine shouldn't have to do breakfast's job.”

2. It’s time to inspect your boundaries

Repeat after me - your capacity is not a character flaw. Windgassen wants you to start noticing where you’re consistently saying yes when your body is screaming no - and put a boundary there. “Burnout accumulates through repeated breach of your capacity.” This might mean continually saying yes and taking on more than you have the resources for.

And there’s evidence behind the boundary-setting argument. Research increasingly links poor work-life boundary management with poorer wellbeing and burnout, while interventions that actually change workload, job demands and employee control show some of the strongest evidence for reducing burnout.

3. Try a two-minute stress check-in

In a world constantly telling you that you need more - productivity, discipline, wellness - clinical psychologist Dr Claire Plumbly’s advice rings refreshingly simple: you might just need to check in with yourself.

“You don't need an hour-long meditation retreat. Instead, use the natural transition points in your day: between meetings, before picking up the kids or when you shut your laptop, for a quick nervous-system check-in.”

Ask yourself: What state am I in, and what does my body need right now?

After a stressful meeting, that might look like stretching, walking round the block, or shaking off some pent-up energy.

The aim, says Plumbly, is to “listen to your body and choose to respond to its need in that moment”

4. Find a way to psychologically clock off

Contrary to popular belief, answering a few emails from the bathtub at 9 pm doesn’t count as switching off. A 2021 study suggests that psychological detachment from work is quite possibly one of the most important skills for reducing burnout - and, rather inconveniently, the more stressful your job, the more you need it, yet the harder it can be to achieve.

Plumbly recommends finding an easy, transportable activity that “anchors your attention away from work, ideally something that doesn't involve your phone, which can easily become a portal straight back into your inbox. Reading, music, knitting, puzzles, gaming, sport: whatever genuinely absorbs you.”

And if you’re a workaholic - expect resistance. “You will get urges to continue working and to discontinue the detachment activity,” she says. Ride out the urge. “Like any habit, it gets easier with repetition.”

5. Borrow someone else’s compassion

Burnout doesn’t just drain your energy. It can turn up the volume on that horrible voice in your head: You’re failing. You’re behind. You should be coping better.

Hepburn says self-compassion can be an antidote to the shame and negativity that’s often associated with burnout. The problem? When you’re already depleted, finding that compassionate voice yourself can be surprisingly difficult.

Her solution is wonderfully simple: borrow someone else’s.

“When you notice your brain spiralling into hyper-negative territory, think about what a kind friend, partner or person you trust would say to you in that moment, and let their voice replace yours for a while.”

Shop MC UK's recovery essentials:

Yes, runways are bursting with trend inspiration and influencers look especially cool posing in the latest pieces, but that doesn't always translate to what we—the people getting dressed for real life rather than Instagram—actually want to invest in. So I, as any great journalist must, took on the treacherous task of heading to the luxury resort of Anda Barut in Türkiye—well worth the trip for sun, sea and food lovers, and especially if you have kids, as there's even an on-site waterpark—to see what women are actually wearing. Reframing hours spent lying on a sunlounger as effective market research. Someone's got to do it.

And after the sixth pair of the same summer shoe strode past to lay a towel down by the pool on the first morning, my mission proved fruitful: Christopher Esber flip flops are, indeed, a firm favourite. The practical yet trend-led PVC sandal is staking its claim as one of the most popular shoes of the summer, and there are a few reasons why.

Opt for the clear colourway (the style I spotted the most of on holiday) and they pair with almost any outfit, no colour-matching required. They're waterproof, making them perfect for poolside—even if you're in the splash zone of the kids' section, or worse, your shoe is mistaken for a pool toy. And I'm told they're especially comfortable, while being arguably more fashion-forward and luxury-resort-ready than the beloved Havaiana. When this season has been dubbed the flip flop summer, and that of the jelly shoe, it simply makes a lot of sense.

As my own favourite leather flip flops are starting to discolour at the heel, I'm certainly tempted, especially after seeing these women style them with everything from denim shorts and a simple vest to sarongs, shirts and kaftans. And if it's other holiday outfit inspiration you're after, just say the word and I'll start packing the suitcase again. It's another excuse for a holiday, after all.

Shop Christopher Esber Flip Flops

Shop Similar Jelly Flip Flops

You've been hashtag blessed with a supermodel mother (Cindy Crawford)—and, even better, have been industriously sidelining your nepo baby origin story by starring in The Shards, Ryan Murphy's latest show based on the novel by Bret Easton Ellis (The Guardian gave it five stars). In fact, on the promo trail, Kaia Gerber—whose father is businessman Rande Gerber—has been showcasing one of the best wardrobes (read: easy and elegant) of summer 2026.

The Shards might be set in a high school—the vibe? The Secret History crossed with American Psycho—but the model-actor's looks have been a lesson in the opposite mood: grown-up minimalism. Together with her stylist Emma Jade Morrison, Gerber has pulled off custom Prada, Gucci and Valentino, not to mention a dusting of Fendi Couture.

Where it gets interesting, however, is her off-duty style, which you'll be glad to hear might contain designer but is more about contemporary brands. (In fact, this also goes for her "on-duty" wardrobe on closer inspection. One of her outfits while promoting The Shards—a fluid black slip dress paired with a lightweight white scarf—is from Toteme.)

Not only has been carrying one designer handbag for the past few months—a rarity in today's pap culture, especially if you work in Hollywood!—but she wears (and rewears) a capsule wardrobe comprised of brands such as Repetto (for ballet pumps), With Jéan (for jersey dresses and skirts), DÔEN (for lace-trimmed blouses) and Alo (for activewear). With help from Star Style, which is one of the best resources if you see a celebrity wearing something you love and ideally want to own, we've found some of the exact pieces in her rotation.

Shop Our Favourite Kaia Gerber Staples